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 [...]

BACKGROUND: Data from short-term experiments suggest that drinking water may promote weight loss by lowering total energy intake and/or altering metabolism. The long-term effects of drinking water on change in body weight and composition are unknown, however. OBJECTIVE: This study tested for associations between absolute and relative increases in drinking water and weight loss over 12 months. METHODS AND PROCEDURES: Secondary analyses were conducted on data from the Stanford A TO Z weight loss intervention [...]

OBJECTIVE: Reduced intake of sweetened caloric beverages (SCBs) is recommended to lower total energy intake. ReplacingSCBs with non-caloric diet beverages does not automatically lower energy intake, however. Compensatory increases in other food or beverages reportedly negate benefits of diet beverages. The purpose of this study was to evaluate drinking water as an alternative to SCBs. RESEARCH METHODS AND PROCEDURES: Secondary analysis of data from the Stanford A TO Z intervention evaluated change in beverage pattern [...]

Evolution has provided an elaborate network of regulatory systems that stabilize body-fluid volume, temperature and composition. This stability insulates cells from an ambient hostile world and assures them the best possible conditions in which to function optimally. When one of these regulatory systems fails, cells and even whole organ systems cannot function properly. This paper [...]