Abstract
BackgroundAn adequate hydration status is critical to ensure efficiency during mental and physical activities. Our goal was to assess the hydration status of a Spanish group of aeronautical military men and to determine the association of hydration status with body composition and anxiety.MethodsA total of 188 men were evaluated through a validated hydration questionnaire, anthropometric and biochemical parameters, and an anxiety questionnaire. Based on these methods, the criteria of hydration were established.ResultsOf the total sample, 81% met the hydration criteria (urine color = well hydrated, water balance ≥ 0 ml, and total water intake/weight ≥ 35 ml/kg), and 19% did not meet the hydration criteria (urine color = not sufficiently hydrated or dehydrated, water balance < 0 ml, and total water intake/weight < 35 ml/kg). Subjects not meeting the hydration criteria had lower urine pH, negative water balance, and lower water intake. The latter also had higher anxiety status (score = 4 vs. 3, P = 0.026), weight [(84.7 ± 10.5) vs. (80.5 ± 10.2) kg], body mass index [(26.3 ± 3.1) vs. (25.2 ± 2.8)]kg/m2, body fat [(22.3 ± 5.6) vs. (18.3 ± 6.5)] %, urine specific gravity, and urine color. Using a logistic binary regression model, hydration status was related significantly with the percentage of body fat (P = 0.004), but no relation was found with age, comorbidities, or medications.Furthermore, total water intake/weight was positively correlated with percentage of body water (r = 0.357, P = 0.000) and negatively with body fat (kg) (r = − 0.427, P = 0.000), percentage of body fat (r = − 0.405, P = 0.000), and waist/hip ratio (r = − 0.223, P = 0.002). Based on a linear regression model, total water intake/weight was related significantly with percentage of body fat (P = 0.001) and percentage of body water content (P = 0.035). No relation was found, however, with waist/hip ratio, age, comorbidities, or medications.ConclusionsThese findings all suggest a relationship between hydration status and body composition but also set the bases for future studies that relate hydration status and anxiety status. These results can be used to improve the hydration status and body composition of military personnel.
Highlights
An adequate hydration status is critical to ensure efficiency during mental and physical activities
These findings all suggest a relationship between hydration status and body composition and set the bases for future studies that relate hydration status and anxiety status
Water balance (WB) must be individualized for best results [17], because water intake (WI) and water elimination (WE) depend on unique personal characteristics, environmental conditions, and physical activity levels that vary in different countries or population groups [18, 19]
Summary
An adequate hydration status is critical to ensure efficiency during mental and physical activities. Optimal functioning of the human body requires an adequate hydration level [1] given by a state of water and electrolyte balance [2, 3]. Water balance (WB) is determined by intake (water contained in beverages and foods, metabolic water) and waste (urine, stool, skin, expired air from the lungs). Failure of these mechanisms and subsequent impairments in WB may produce severe problems [1, 4]. Maintaining an adequate state of hydration is critical to ensure efficiency during mental and physical activities and plays a key role in preventing accidents by minimizing human error [9]. In Spain, the ANIBES Study (2013) [21] clearly showed that individuals had inadequate levels of total water intake (TWI) when compared with European Food Safety Authority (EFSA)
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