Scientists Issue Key Health Statement
New Research Challenges the Common Recommendation of Drinking Eight Glasses of Water a Day
A new study challenges the common recommendation of drinking eight glasses of water a day. According to the research led by the University of Aberdeen in Scotland, the amount of water intake required to maintain a healthy body is individualized and varies according to factors such as age, sex, energy expenditure, and climate conditions.
The scientists collaborated with researchers from around the world and worked with 5,604 people aged 8 days to 96 years from 23 different countries. They used a method called the stable isotope technique to estimate how much water people need to consume daily. The stable isotope technique replaced the hydrogen molecule in the water people drink with its stable isotope, deuterium (heavy hydrogen).
According to the research, people with rapid water turnover drank more water. The most important factor in the water cycle was the amount of energy the body burned. The research found that the highest values were observed in men aged 20-35 years, with an average of 4.2 liters of water per day. This amount decreases with age, down to an average of 2.5 liters per day for men in their 90s. Women aged 20-40 had an average turnover of 3.3 liters, which dropped to 2.5 liters at the age of 90.
The lead scientist, Prof. John Speakman, explains that the amount of water needed to drink is the difference between the total water needed to digest and the amount of water obtained from food. He highlights that many foods already contain water, providing a significant amount of water just by eating.
In conclusion, the research suggests that the common recommendation of drinking eight glasses of water a day is too high for most people and that a one-size-fits-all recipe for water intake is not supported by the data obtained. Prof. Speakman emphasizes that the study is a big step forward in predicting people’s future water needs to avoid the cost of drinking too much water.
