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Aim: Urine concentration measured via osmolality (U OSM ) and specific gravity (U SG ) reflects the adequacy of daily fluid intake, which has important relationships to health in pregnant (PREG) and lactating (LACT) women. Urine color (U COL ) may be a practical, surrogate marker for whole-body hydration status., Purpose: To determine whether U COL was a valid measure of urine concentration in PREG and LACT, and pair-matched non-pregnant, non-lactating control women (CON)., Methods: Eighteen PREG/LACT (age 31 ± 1 years, pre-pregnancy BMI 24.3 ± 5.9 kg m -2 ) and eighteen CON (age 29 ± 4 years, BMI 24.1 ± 3.7 kg m -2 ) collected 24-h and single-urine samples on specified daily voids at five time points (15 ± 2, 26 ± 1, and 37 ± 1 weeks gestation, 3 ± 1 and 9 ± 1 weeks postpartum during lactation; CON visits were separated by similar time intervals) for measurement of 24-h U OSM , U SG , and U COL and single-sample U OSM and U COL ., Results: Twenty-four-hour U COL was significantly correlated with 24-h U OSM (r = 0.6085-0.8390, P < 0.0001) and 24-h U SG (r = 0.6213-0.8985, P < 0.0001) in all groups. A 24-h U COL  ≥ 4 (AUC = 0.6848-0.9513, P < 0.05) and single-sample U COL  ≥ 4 (AUC = 0.9094-0.9216, P < 0.0001) indicated 24-h U OSM  ≥ 500 mOsm kg -1 (representing inadequate fluid intake) in PREG, LACT, and CON., Conclusions: Urine color was a valid marker of urine concentration in all groups. Thus, PREG, LACT, and CON can utilize U COL to monitor their daily fluid balance. Women who present with a U COL  ≥ 4 likely have a U OSM  ≥ 500 mOsm kg -1 and should increase fluid consumption to improve overall hydration status., Competing Interests: On behalf of all authors, the corresponding author states that there is no conflict of interest.

Aim: Urine color (UC) is a practical tool for hydration assessment. The technique has been validated in adults, but has not been tested in children., Purpose: The purpose of the study was to test the validity of the urine color scale in young, healthy boys and girls, as a marker of urine concentration, investigate its diagnostic ability of detecting hypohydration and examine the ability of children to self-assess UC., Methods: A total of 210 children participated (age: 8-14 years, body mass: 43.4 ± 12.6 kg, height: 1.49 ± 0.13 m, body fat: 25.2 ± 7.8 %). Data collection included: two single urine samples (first morning and before lunch) and 24-h sampling. Hydration status was assessed via urine osmolality (UOsmo) and UC via the eight-point color scale., Results: Mean UC was 3 ± 1 and UOsmo 686 ± 223 mmol kg(-1). UC displayed a positive relationship as a predictor of UOsmo (R (2): 0.45, P < 0.001). Based on the receiver operating curve, UC has good overall classification ability for the three samples (area under the curve 85-92 %), with good sensitivity (92-98 %) and specificity (55-68 %) for detecting hypohydration. The overall accuracy of the self-assessment of UC in the morning or the noon samples ranged from 67 to 78 %. Further threshold analysis indicated that the optimal self-assessed UC threshold for hypohydration was ≥4., Conclusions: The classical eight-point urine color scale is a valid method to assess hydration in children of age 8-14 years, either by researchers or self-assessment.

Purpose: Human daily total water intake (TWI) has a large inter-individual range. Recently, water supplementation has been suggested as a potential preventative and therapeutic modality. Thus, we aimed to measure hydration biomarkers in women with high (HIGH) versus low (LOW) daily TWI to determine baseline differences, and the efficacy of these markers during a systematic alteration in TWI., Methods: This cohort study identified 14 HIGH [3.34 (0.56) L day(-1)] and 14 LOW [1.62 (0.48) L day(-1)] from 120 women. Next, fluid intake was decreased in HIGH [2.00 (0.21) L day(-1)] while LOW increased [3.50 (0.13) L day(-1)] across 4 days. Body mass, fluid intake, serum osmolality (S osmo), total plasma protein (TPP), 24 h urine osmolality, and 24 h urine volume, were measured on each day of modified TWI. Estimated plasma volume (E pv) was calculated using measured body mass and hematocrit values., Results: At baseline, urinary markers and TPP differentiated HIGH from LOW [7.0 (0.3) versus 7.3 (0.3) mg dL(-1), respectively]. Upon TWI intervention, (1) body mass decreased in HIGH [-0.7 (1.1) kg, p = 0.010)] but did not increase in LOW [+0.0 (0.6) kg, p = 0.110], (2) E pv decreased 2.1 (2.4) %, p = 0.004, (3) urine osmolality increased in HIGH [397 (144)-605 (230) mOsm kg(-1), p < 0.001] and decreased in LOW [726 (248)-265 (97) mOsm kg(-1) p < 0.001], and (4) no changes of serum osmolality occurred in either HIGH or LOW (all p > 0.05)., Conclusions: Urinary markers and TPP are sensitive measures to habitual high and low TWI and to changes in TWI. Both groups through urinary and some hematological responses following TWI manipulation achieved regulation of hemoconcentration.

The present study evaluated, using a well-controlled dehydration protocol, the effects of 24 h fluid deprivation (FD) on selected mood and physiological parameters. In the present cross-over study, twenty healthy women (age 25 (SE 0.78) years) participated in two randomised sessions: FD-induced dehydration v. a fully hydrated control condition. In the FD period, the last water intake was between 18.00 and 19.00 hours and no beverages were allowed until 18.00 hours on the next day (23-24 h). Water intake was only permitted at fixed periods during the control condition. Physiological parameters in the urine, blood and saliva (osmolality) as well as mood and sensations (headache and thirst) were compared across the experimental conditions. Safety was monitored throughout the study. The FD protocol was effective as indicated by a significant reduction in urine output. No clinical abnormalities of biological parameters or vital signs were observed, although heart rate was increased by FD. Increased urine specific gravity, darker urine colour and increased thirst were early markers of dehydration. Interestingly, dehydration also induced a significant increase in saliva osmolality at the end of the 24 h FD period but plasma osmolality remained unchanged. The significant effects of FD on mood included decreased alertness and increased sleepiness, fatigue and confusion. The most consistent effects of mild dehydration on mood are on sleep/wake parameters. Urine specific gravity appears to be the best physiological measure of hydration status in subjects with a normal level of activity; saliva osmolality is another reliable and non-invasive method for assessing hydration status.

Biomarkers of hydration change in response to acute dehydration; however, their responsiveness to changes in fluid intake volume, without exercise or heat exposure, has not been adequately described. Moreover, patterns of circadian variation in hydration biomarkers have not been established. The study aims were to (1) assess the response of hydration biomarkers to changes in daily water intake; and (2) evaluate circadian variation in urinary and salivary biomarkers. Fifty-two adults (24.8 ± 3.1 years; 22.3 ± 1.6 kg/m; 79 % female), grouped based on habitual fluid intake (low drinkers, n = 30, <1.2 L/day; high drinkers, n = 22, >2.0 L/day), completed a 5-day inpatient crossover trial. On days 1 and 2, low drinkers received 1.0 L/day of water while high drinkers received 2.5 L/day. On days 3 through 5, intake was reversed between groups. Plasma and saliva osmolality were assessed daily at predetermined times, and all urine produced over 24 h was collected in timed intervals. ANOVA with intake (1.0 vs. 2.5 L/day), day, and time revealed that (1) urine concentration (osmolality, specific gravity, color) and volume, but not plasma nor saliva osmolality, responded to changes in water intake; (2) urinary hydration biomarkers and saliva osmolality vary as a function of the time of day; and (3) urine osmolality measured in samples collected during the afternoon most closely reflects the corresponding 24 h value. Overall, urinary hydration biomarkers are responsive to changes in water intake, and stabilize within 24 h of modifying intake volume. Moreover, short afternoon urine collections may be able to replace 24 h collections for more convenience in hydration assessment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]