210421 Why water may be fundamentally related to every health problem

Tuesday, November 10, 2009: 11:30 AM

Jodi Stookey , Children's Hospital Oakland Research Institute, Oakland, CA
  
Like every other organism, humans have evolved metabolic

and physiologic mechanisms to maintain cell volume

despite constant water stress from the environment. Cell

hydration status regulates cell biochemistry (gene

transcription, the balance of fuel/substrate oxidation)

and whole body physiology (brain, heart, kidney, liver,

endocrine, GI, immune function). Changes in osmoreceptor

cell volume (shrinkage or swelling) define thirst, taste,

hunger, nerve signals, and muscle contraction. Mild cell

dehydration is common in US adults and children and

associated with impaired cognitive and physical

performance, morbidity and mortality. Water intake and

cell hydration status can mediate, modify and/or confound

the effects of key public health intervention targets,

food and fluid intake and physical activity, on health

endpoints. Researchers and clinicians should routinely

measure and consider water intake and cell hydration

status. Interdisciplinary knowledge about cell hydration

may have public health applications.

Learning Objectives:
Critically evaluate research on water intake and health Discuss how water contributes to the metabolism, physiology, health risk factors and health outcomes

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: active research program in nutrition sciences with special emphasis on the associations between water intake and human health
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

See more of: What do we know and not know about water intake and health?
See more of: Food and Nutrition