Are you and your patients drinking enough water? We all know water is good for us, but did you know proper water intake may play a role in healthy aging? Suboptimal hydration may accelerate aging and increase the risk of chronic diseases and premature death. A study in eBioMedicine, part of Lancet Discovery Science, tracked more than 15,000 people aged 45 to 66. The researchers judged hydration habits via serum sodium levels. Biological age was calculated using age-dependent biomarkers, and the risks of chronic diseases and premature mortality were assessed over a 25-year follow-up period. Chronic diseases examined included:
- Heart failure
- Dementia
- Chronic lung disease
- Stroke
- Diabetes
- Peripheral vascular disease
- Atrial fibrillation
- Hypertension
The study found that middle-aged individuals with serum sodium levels >142 mmol/l:
- Had a 39% increased risk of developing chronic diseases
- Had a 21% increased risk of premature mortality when serum sodium levels went above 144 mmol/l
- Were 50% more likely to be biologically older than their chronological age
- And a higher biological age was linked to an increased risk of chronic diseases and premature mortality
The study defines “hypohydration” as “a state in which water conservation mechanisms, including the secretion of antidiuretic hormone and renal urine concertation, are activated when low water intake or high water loss result in decreased body water content and elevated plasma tonicity.” Addition research and interventional trials are called for, especially because, “World-wide surveys find that more than 50% of people do not drink the recommended amounts of fluids. Therefore, results of our study provide additional reasons for reinforcing already existent recommendations for optimal fluid intake.”