November, 2007 – Governments, organizations and institutions responsible for establishing and implementing dietary guidelines should include scientifically based recommendations about the importance of hydration and total water intake to promote health and well-being. That’s the conclusion of leading hydration- experts whose signatures appear at the end of the first published Scientific Consensus Statement on Hydration and Health (SCS).

The consensus statement reflects the science that was discussed and synthesized at the ILSI North American Conference on Hydration and Health Promotion, held November 2006. The Symposium featured experts from both the United States and Europe and attracted attendees from government, academia, industry and professional organizations. The SCS and articles related to the Symposium were published as part of a supplement to the October 2007 issue of the Journal of the American College of Nutrition.

The experts agreed that science links adequate hydration to survival, health promotion, sustained physical and mental performance, and workplace safety and productivity.

“Water is essential for like and health yet hydration and fluid intake have not received adequate attention in public guidelines,” said Maxime Buyckx, MD, director, health and nutrition sciences for the Beverage Institute For Health & Wellness of The Coca-Cola Company. Buyckx also chairs the ILSI North America Technical Committee on Hydration that organized the 2006 Symposium on Hydration and Health, during which the Consensus Statement was signed. “Our understanding of hydration and health is rapidly expanding, and that, coupled with increased emphasis on physical activity in public dietary guidance, points to the need to stress the importance of fluid intake in future recommendations.”

Hydration needs vary depending on age, body size, physical activity level, health status, food intake patterns and environmental conditions, such as humidity and temperature. Thus, the consensus statement indicates recommendations for total water intake, including beverages and foods, should take into consideration regional and international differences, in addition to lifecycle and special health needs. For example, in the United States and Canada, the Institute of Medicine base recommendations on data showing that about 80% of total water intake comes form drinking water and other beverages, with the remaining 20% coming from foods. For people 19 years and older, that translates to average daily fluid intake (both drinking water and other beverages) of 3 liters (about 13 cups) for males and 2.2 liters (about 9 cups) for females.

“Substantial research has been conducted since the Institute of Medicine published hydration and fluid intake recommendations in 2004,” says Buyckx. “And the conference provided a platform for experts to build consensus reflecting the more recent research, and also consider areas where more research is needed.”

1. Hydration and Health Promotion: J. Am. Coll. Nutr. 2007 26: 529S-532S.