McDonalds offers pickle juice to Chicago marathon runners, health experts question whether it works

McDonald’s is putting its own briny twist on marathon weekend in Chicago.The fast-food giant is handing out limited-edition bottles of “Pickle Boost” to runners and spectators during Chicago Marathon weekend, starting Oct.9 and continuing through race day on Oct.

11.McDonald’s said the promotion is inspired by pickle juice’s popularity among athletes who use it when muscle cramps strike during workouts.Runners can pick up the bottles at a Friday morning pop-up on Chicago’s Lakefront Trail, then at five McDonald’s locations along or near the marathon route on race day, while supplies last.The promotion taps into a longstanding belief that pickle juice can help prevent muscle cramps, which science partially backs up.“Pickle juice may help relieve muscle cramps, but the research is mixed,” said Jena Brown, RD, CSSD, a Texas-based sports dietitian and owner of Victorem Performance Nutrition, which works with endurance athletes.One small study found that pickle juice appeared to help electrically induced cramps subside more quickly than water in dehydrated participants, said Brown, who is a longtime runner herself.But that research did not examine runners during an actual marathon, and another study found no benefit.“Muscle cramps are not fully understood and are likely not induced by a singular cause for all runners,” she said.Electrolyte losses may contribute to cramps in some athletes, but pickle juice’s possible benefit may not be as simple as replacing sodium, Brown said.

Another theory is that vinegar may stimulate receptors in the mouth and gut and affect signaling between the nervous system and muscles.The evidence for that explanation is limited, and it should not turn pickle brine into a runner’s primary race-day strategy, Brown said.“Pickle brine is not a replacement for a hydration and fueling plan,” Brown said.Morning Report delivers the latest news, videos, photos and more.

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