Abstract
Background/Objectives:Drinking large amounts of water is often recommended for weight control. Whether water intake stimulates energy and fat metabolism is, however, controversial with some studies reporting that drinking half a litre or more of water increases resting energy expenditure (REE) by 10–30% and decreases respiratory quotient (RQ), whereas others report no significant changes in REE or RQ. The aim here was to reassess the concept of water-induced thermogenesis and fat oxidation in humans, with particular focus on interindividual variability in REE and RQ responses, comparison with a time-control Sham drink, and on the potential impact of gender, body composition and abdominal adiposity.Subjects/Methods:REE and RQ were measured in healthy young adults (n=27; body mass index range: 18.5–33.9 kg m−2), by ventilated hood indirect calorimetry for at least 30 min before and 130 min after ingesting 500 ml of purified (distilled) water at 21–22 °C or after Sham drinking, in a randomized cross-over design. Body composition and abdominal fat were assessed by bioimpedance techniques.Results:Drinking 500 ml of distilled water led to marginal increases in REE (<3% above baseline), independently of gender, but which were not significantly different from Sham drinking. RQ was found to fall after the water drink, independently of gender, but it also diminished to a similar extent in response to sham drinking. Interindividual variability in REE and RQ responses was not associated with body fatness, central adiposity or fat-free mass.Conclusions:This study conducted in young men and women varying widely in adiposity, comparing the ingestion of distilled water to Sham drinking, suggests that ingestion of purified water per se does not result in the stimulation of thermogenesis or fat oxidation.
Highlights
In the early 1980s, of a pivotal role of the sympathetic nervous system (SNS) in the control of thermogenesis pertaining to weight regulation, bioactive food and beverage ingredients with sympathomimetic effects have been the focus of considerable interest for their potential thermogenic, fat-oxidising and anti-obesity properties.[1,2,3]
The proof of concept for water-induced thermogenesis was first claimed by Boschmann et al.[6] who reported that the ingestion of half a litre of water led to a relatively large increase in resting energy expenditure (REE) of about 30% between 30 and 90 min post drink in both men and women
Boschmann et al.[6] proposed that increasing water intake by 1.5 litre per day could lead to an increase in energy expenditure of 200 kJ per day, thereby underscoring quantitatively important thermogenic potential of water drinking for weight control
Summary
In the early 1980s, of a pivotal role of the sympathetic nervous system (SNS) in the control of thermogenesis pertaining to weight regulation, bioactive food and beverage ingredients with sympathomimetic effects have been the focus of considerable interest for their potential thermogenic, fat-oxidising and anti-obesity properties.[1,2,3] These include caffeine, catechin polyphenols, capsaicinoids and medium-chain fatty acids—all of which have been shown to stimulate thermogenesis and/or fat oxidation in humans either by increasing SNS activity and/or potentiating its actions on cellular metabolism. The proof of concept for water-induced thermogenesis was first claimed by Boschmann et al.[6] who reported that the ingestion of half a litre of water led to a relatively large increase in resting energy expenditure (REE) of about 30% between 30 and 90 min post drink in both men and women From these results, Boschmann et al.[6] proposed that increasing water intake by 1.5 litre per day could lead to an increase in energy expenditure of 200 kJ per day, thereby underscoring quantitatively important thermogenic potential of water drinking for weight control.
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