Abstract
Purpose To evaluate the total fluid intake from drinking water and beverages in adult populations from different countries and assess the percentage of individuals complying with the European Food Safety Agency (EFSA) adequate intake (AI) of water from fluids.MethodsA total of 16,276 adults (7580 men and 8696 women) aged between 18 and 70 years (mean age 39.8 years) were randomly recruited from 13 different countries from three continents. Information about the total daily fluid intake (sum of drinking water and beverages) was collected using a 24-h fluid-specific record over seven consecutive days.ResultsImportant differences in total fluid intake between countries were found; however, few differences between men and women were reported in most of the countries. Less than 50 % of the women and approximately 60 % of the men do not comply with the EFSA AI of water from fluids. Women were more than twice as likely as men to meet these AI (OR 2.15; 95 % CI 2.02–2.29). The odds of meeting the AI of water from fluids were lower in individuals over 50 years (OR 0.88; 95 % CI 0.80–0.96). Nine percent of the total population consumed less than half of the AI, 40.5 % between 50 and 100 %, and 50.5 % more than the AI.ConclusionsThere were considerable differences in total fluid intake between countries but not between genders. Only 40 % of men and 60 % of women comply with the EFSA AI of water from fluids. Men and elderly individuals had an increased risk of not complying with this reference value.
Highlights
Water is involved in practically all functions of the human body and plays a crucial role in life and health
To keep the balance between water input and water losses, individuals are recommended to comply with the reference values of total water intake that have been established by some international societies or institutions [3, 4]
The main aim of the present study is: (a) to evaluate the total fluid intake from beverages in adult populations from 13 countries in three continents, (b) to assess the percentage of individuals complying with the European Food Safety Agency (EFSA) adequate intake (AI) of water from fluids and (c) to assess the possible determinants of total fluid intake
Summary
Water is involved in practically all functions of the human body and plays a crucial role in life and health. Even dehydration of only 1 or 2 % of body water has been shown to impair cognitive functions, alertness and capacity for exercise [2]. To keep the balance between water input and water losses, individuals are recommended to comply with the reference values of total water intake that have been established by some international societies or institutions [3, 4]. Total water intake includes water from drinking water, beverages of all kinds and food moisture. These reference values are largely based on observational studies of total water intake conducted in healthy individuals and the estimation of total water balance, which takes into account losses. The established reference values vary considerably, which can be partly explained by differences in the methodology used to estimate fluid intake and/or losses [5]
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