Hydration status, body composition, and anxiety status in aeronautical military personnel from Spain: a cross-sectional study

Abstract

Background An 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. Methods A 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. Results Of 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. Conclusions These 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.

A systematic review of measurement methods used to estimate fluid and beverage intake in free‐living, working‐age adults

“…Characteristics of the included studies are shown in Tables 1 and 2. Of the 105 included studies, 81 studies 20,23,25,26,28–30,32,34–46,48–56,58–65,67–71,74–76,78–84,86–92,95–99,101,103,104,106,109,113,115–124 were classified as studies primarily designed to measure fluid intake (intervention or observational studies), and 24 18,19,21,22,24,27,31,33,47,57,66,73,77,85,94,100,102,105,107,108,110–112,114 studies were classified as methodological studies evaluating accuracy and/or reliability of dietary assessment tools.…”

Evaluation of Military Recruits With Complaints of Palpitations After Physical Training: A Study From Turkey

“…Thus, the probability of discharge from the military increases [ 5 ]. Carretero-Krug et al reported that inadequate hydration during exercise increases anxiety and that palpitations negatively affect mental performance [ 6 ]. Heat strokes are common in the Middle East.…”

Habitual Water Intake Impacted the Body Composition of Young Male Athletes in Free-Living Conditions: A Cross-Sectional Study

“…Studies had revealed that there was certain positive degree of association between water intake and body water content [23][24][25][26]. Indeed, individuals with different levels of water intake had differed hydration biomarkers including the urine osmolality, urine speci c gravity (USG), among young adults and athletes [27][28][29].…”