Indices of plasma hypertonicity, elevated plasma concentrations of solutes that draw fluid out of cells by osmosis, are needed to pursue hypertonicity as a possible risk factor for obesity and chronic disease. This paper proposes a new index that may be more sensitive to mild hypertonicity in vivo at a point in time than traditional measures. The index compares mean corpuscular volume (MCV) estimates from [...]
Water homeostasis generally occurs without conscious effort; however, estimating requirements can be necessary in settings such as health care. This review investigates the derivation of equations for estimating water requirements. Published literature was reviewed for water estimation equations and original papers sought. Equation origins were difficult to ascertain and original references were often not cited. [...]
OBJECTIVE: Recent data suggest that as many as 50% of older adults may have hypertonic plasma, an indicator of cell dehydration that predicts a range of adverse outcomes. To determine if a prevalence of this magnitude could be real, this study used nationally representative data to estimate the prevalence of hypertonicity, and to test for biologically plausible associations between hypertonicity, older age, glucose dysregulation, hemoconcentration, reduced bioelectrical [...]
Several studies have shown positive associations between diuretic beverage consumption and breast cancer risk (van der Brandt, 1995). Water consumption has been linked to reduced breast cancer risk in a pilot case–control study (Stookey et al. 1997). The study showed that plain water consumption (versus not drinking plain water) was associated with a 4.7 times [...]
To explore whether elevated plasma glucose might progress to diabetes via a mechanism that involves plasma hypertonicity, we evaluated the independent and joint effects of these variables on diabetes risk. Community-dwelling older adults (70+years), who reported no previous diagnosis of diabetes and had glucose levels below 200 mg/dl in the 1992 Duke EPESE survey, were [...]
OBJECTIVES: To determine whether plasma hypertonicity might be a marker of early frailty, this study tested the associations between plasma hypertonicity, incident disability, and mortality in nondisabled older adults. DESIGN: Longitudinal, observational study. SETTING: Community-based. PARTICIPANTS: Older adults (> or =70), who reported no disability and gave blood in the 1992 Duke Established Populations for Epidemiologic Studies of the Elderly survey (n=705), [...]
Although much is known about the effects of changes in electrolyte and water balance on serum sodium concentration, the quantitative relationships between body composition and the concentration of sodium in serum have not been established. Also, no definitive study has been made of the correspondence between serum sodium concentration and total serum osmolarity. It is [...]
The intact skin represents a barrier to the uncontrolled loss of water, proteins, and plasma components from the organism. Owing to its complex structure, the epidermal barrier with its major layer, the stratum corneum, is the rate-limiting unit for the penetration of exogenous substances through the skin. The epidermal barrier is not a static structure. [...]
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE. The level of dehydration has been known to be a predisposing factor for the development of decompression sickness in divers. The aim of this study was to determine the level of dehydration in divers who dove with heliox and to determine whether the source of this dehydration was intracellular and/or extracellular by [...]
Ramadan observance requires a total abstention from food and drink from sunrise to sunset for a period of one month. Such intermittent fasting has only minor effects upon the overall nutrition and physiological responses of the general sedentary population. Larger meals are consumed at night and in the early morning. Body mass usually remains unchanged, [...]