Adults who stay well hydrated appear healthier, develop fewer chronic diseases such as heart disease and pneumonia, and live longer than those who don’t drink enough fluids.
A study published in “eBioMedicine”, and carried out from the health data collected from 11,255 adults during a 30 year periodhas analyzed the links between serum sodium levels -which increase when fluid intake decreases- and various health indicators.
They found that adults with serum sodium levels in the high end of a normal range were more likely to develop chronic disease and show signs of advanced biological aging than those with serum sodium levels in the middle ranges. Adults with higher levels were also more likely to die at a younger age.
“The results suggest that adequate hydration can slow aging and prolong a disease-free life,” says Natalia Dmitrieva, study author and researcher in the Laboratory of Cardiovascular Regenerative Medicine at the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI). .
The study builds on research the scientists published in March 2022, which found links between higher ranges of normal serum sodium levels and increased risk of heart failure. Both findings come from the study Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC), which includes substudies involving thousands of black and white adults in the US. The first ARIC substudy began in 1987 and has helped researchers better understand the risk factors for heart disease and to develop clinical guidelines for its treatment and prevention.
The findings do not prove a cause-and-effect effect, the researchers noted. Randomized controlled trials are needed to determine whether optimal hydration can promote healthy agingprevent disease and prolong life. However, associations can serve as a basis for clinical practice and guide personal health behaviour.
“People whose serum sodium is 142 mEq/L or higher would benefit from having their fluid intake assessed,” says Dmitrieva. The expert points out that most people can safely increase their fluid intake to reach recommended levels, which can be done with water as well as other liquids, such as juices or vegetables and fruits with a high water content. Experts suggest that most women should consume about 6-9 glasses (1.5-2.2 liters) of fluids per day and men 8-12 glasses (2-3 liters).
The results suggest that staying well hydrated may slow down the aging process and prevent or delay chronic diseases.
“The goal is to make sure that patients are getting enough fluids while also evaluating factors, such as medication, that can cause fluid loss,” says Manfred Boehm, study author and director of the Cardiovascular Regenerative Medicine Laboratory. . “It is also possible that doctors must abide by the patient’s current treatment planhow to limit the fluid intake in case of heart failure».
The authors also cited research showing that nearly half of the world’s people do not meet the recommended total daily water intake, which often starts at 6 glasses (1.5 liters).
“Globally, this can have a big impact,” says Dmitrieva. “Decreased body water content is the most common factor that increases serum sodium, so the results suggest that staying well hydrated may slow the aging process and prevent or delay chronic disease.”