Our Research: The Mount Saint Vincent University Clinical Study

A 60-participant clinical study at Mount Saint Vincent University, led by Dr. Bohdan L. Luhovyy, measured how two SumGood fruit-based freezies affected post-exercise thirst, nausea, fatigue, and energy. The full reports are available below.

Study at a Glance

Title Subjective perception of Sum Good freezies by human adults
Institution Mount Saint Vincent University, Department of Applied Human Nutrition (Halifax, Nova Scotia)
Principal Investigator Dr. Bohdan L. Luhovyy, PhD
Sample size n=60 (30 female, 30 male)
Participant age 19-35 years (mean 24.4 ± 4.6)
Ethics approval MSVU Research Ethics Board, April 21, 2023
Study period May 2023 – May 2024
Statistical method Mixed-effects analysis of repeated measures with Tukey-Kramer post-hoc test (GraphPad Prism v9.5.1)
Final report date June 24, 2024

Download the full reports

Both reports are available below as PDFs. The Final Report (June 2024) contains the complete dataset across all 60 participants. The Progress Report (October 2023) contains the interim 26-participant analysis.

📄 Final Report: June 24, 2024 (PDF)
Complete results across n=60 participants. Sensory data, primary outcomes, and methodology.

📄 Progress Report: October 9, 2023 (PDF)
Interim results across the first 26 participants. Useful for understanding study evolution and effect-size convergence.

Key findings

All findings below are taken directly from the Final Report (June 24, 2024). P-values reflect the statistical significance of the change measured. The post-exercise comparison point is the rating taken immediately after the 30-minute moderate-intensity cycling protocol.

Outcome Effect after 2 freezies P-value Comparison
Thirst −43% reduction P<0.0001 vs. immediately post-exercise
Nausea −49% reduction P=0.04 vs. immediately post-exercise
Fatigue −38% reduction P<0.0001 vs. immediately post-exercise
Energy +32% above baseline, sustained P<0.0001 vs. baseline (rested, fasted)
Wellness Improved P=0.03 vs. post-exercise
Pleasantness (taste) 7.0 / 9 (hedonic scale) n/a Statistically equivalent to pizza (7.32 / 9)

Note: The reduction in nausea was statistically significant after the second freezie (P=0.04). The effect after the first freezie was not statistically significant in the n=60 sample (P=0.1) but moved in the same direction; researchers indicated the effect could become significant with more participants.

How the study was conducted

The MSVU team designed the study to measure the subjective effects of fruit-based freezies on post-exercise hydration and physical comfort under controlled laboratory conditions.

Participants

Sixty healthy adults (30 female, 30 male) aged 19-35 years (mean 24.4 ± 4.6) were recruited via the MSVU Appetite Facebook page and through Halifax Regional Municipality community outreach. Participants completed one session in the MSVU Appetite Lab.

Pre-session controls

Each participant arrived after an overnight fast. Water intake was permitted up to one hour before the lab visit. These controls eliminated confounding from variable breakfast, coffee, or pre-session hydration that would otherwise affect baseline measures.

Protocol sequence

  1. Baseline: Participants completed questionnaires rating thirst, physical comfort, energy, fatigue, nausea, and wellness on 100 mm visual analogue scales (VAS).
  2. 30-minute exercise: Moderate-intensity ergometer cycling. Intensity was individualized to each participant's fitness baseline.
  3. Post-exercise: Same questionnaires repeated immediately after exercise.
  4. First freezie: One SumGood fruit-based freezie consumed; questionnaires repeated.
  5. Second freezie: A second SumGood freezie consumed; questionnaires and sensory perception measures repeated.
  6. 30 minutes after lunch: Participants ate an ad libitum pizza meal with water available, then completed final ratings 30 minutes later.

Statistical analysis

All outcomes were analyzed using a mixed-effects analysis of repeated measures with Tukey-Kramer post-hoc test (GraphPad Prism v9.5.1). P ≤ 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Effects between mean values are reported as absolute percentage change (%).

Research team

Mount Saint Vincent University Appetite Lab where the SumGood freezie clinical study was conducted
Photo: MSVU Appetite Lab. Verify CDN URL and permissions before publishing.
  • Dr. Bohdan L. Luhovyy, PhD: Principal Investigator. Associate Professor, Department of Applied Human Nutrition, Mount Saint Vincent University.
  • Brianna Smith, RD: MSc Student (study lead).
  • Dr. Priya Kathirvel, PhD: Research Associate.
  • Devora Goldberg: MSc Student / Research Assistant.
  • Ismot Jui: MSc Student / Research Assistant.

Why this study matters

Most freezie and electrolyte-drink brands compete on marketing claims. Very few have peer-reviewable clinical data on the specific product they sell. The MSVU study makes SumGood a rare exception in the Canadian hydration category, a brand whose claims about post-exercise outcomes are anchored in measurable, statistically-analyzed results from an independent university research group.

The findings also fill a real gap in the post-exercise hydration literature. Most published research on fluid replacement uses powdered electrolyte drinks or commercial sports beverages. The frozen, fruit-based, low-osmolarity format is rarely tested. The MSVU dataset gives healthcare practitioners, sports nutritionists, and consumers a starting point for evaluating whether this format makes sense for specific use cases, particularly post-exercise nausea, where most existing products perform poorly.

For a non-technical walkthrough of the implications, see the full Pillar 1 explainer on post-exercise hydration science. For a structured breakdown of the study itself, see post-exercise hydration & recovery: what 60 adults taught us.

How to cite this study

Luhovyy BL, Smith B, Kathirvel P, Goldberg D, Jui I. Subjective perception of Sum Good freezies by human adults: Final Report. Halifax, NS: Mount Saint Vincent University, Department of Applied Human Nutrition; 24 June 2024.

Funded by Sum Good Foods Inc. Conducted independently by Mount Saint Vincent University under MSVU Research Ethics Board approval (April 21, 2023).

Important context

SumGood freezies are a food product. Nothing on this page or in the linked reports is a claim that SumGood treats, cures, prevents, or mitigates any disease, condition, or symptom, including dehydration, nausea, or fatigue. The MSVU study measured subjective perceptions in healthy adults under specific exercise conditions; results may not generalize to other populations or contexts.

If you are pregnant, breastfeeding, managing a medical condition, or making decisions about hydration for a child or older adult, please consult your healthcare provider.

Where this study is cited

The MSVU clinical study is the foundational reference for our editorial content. You'll find it cited and discussed in:

Pillar guides

Articles