healthy ageing: why is being well hydrated so important?

Healthy Ageing: why is being well hydrated so important?

Healthy Ageing: why is being well hydrated so important? www.nestlenutrition-institute.org

Help ageing people preserve their quality of life!

The number of seniors is reaching historically unforeseen levels. In 1950, seniors between 45 and 75 years old made up 19% of the total population, whereas the United Nations forecasts 32% by 20501.

Actually, beginning around 45 years old, the ageing process begins sometimes earlier than we think. The body evolves slowly. For example, nutritional needs change due to physiological modifications that affect body composition, water balance and bone health2… The body becomes less efficient than before and starts to feel the first signs of ageing.

All of these changes are of course unavoidable!

However, it is possible to take action in order to protect oneself as much as possible against premature ageing.

1. EuroStat Datamonitor – seniors are define as people aged 50 years old and over 2. Gille 2010. Overview of physiological changes and optimal diet in the golden age generation over 50. Eur Rev Aging Phys Act 2010; 7: 27–36

Healthy living can actually slow down and delay these slight drawbacks, which on a daily basis, can become tiresome and harm the well-being of seniors. 71% of seniors across the world are willing to modify their diets to improve their health status1. As health care professionals, you can help your patients.

To do so, you can give them good advice to be followed on a daily basis: practicing on a regular basis a physical activity which is suitable for them, adopting a varied and balanced diet which provides them adequate amounts of macro- and micronutrients and drinking enough water to keep the body properly hydrated.

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With ageing, seniors are more at risk of mild dehydration

This is a well established physiological fact for seniors aged 65 and over5, but it is also true amongst younger seniors as shown by two studies6,7. Indeed, in the Marzalek et al study6, which examined men who were exposed to a hot environment, levels of thirst in older men (aged 58-64 years) were lower than amongst young people (aged 20-29 years).

Another study, carried out during a strenuous hill walk, has also shown that the sensation of thirst was lower for seniors (aged 56+/-3 years) than for younger adults (aged 24+/-3 years)7.

Gradual ageing of the body is accompanied by several changes, both physical and physiological. For example, the decline in lean body mass is accompanied by a decrease over time in the percentage of water in the body. So, the percentage of body weight made up of water falls from about 60% in adults to about 50 % in the elderly3,4.

A more troubling fact: seniors are more at risk of dehydration as the sensation of thirst decreases with age, and their kidneys have decreased ability to concentrate urine.

1. Age and progressive reduction of the sensation of thirst

The sensation of thirst is a rather complex biological mechanism which allows the body to realise that it lacks water. Thus, when we feel thirsty, our body is already slightly dehydrated. In seniors, the sensation of thirst is decreasing, and therefore they are more at risk of becoming dehydrated.

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3. Jequier E et al. Water as an essential nutrient: the physiological basis of hydration. Eur J Clin Nutr 2010; 64: 115-1234. Mentes J. Oral hydration in older adults. AJN 2006; 106 (6): 40-495. Phillips PA et al. (1984): Reduced thirst after water deprivation in healthy elderly men. New England Journal of Medicine 1984; 311(12): 753-759 6. Marszalek A– International journal of occupational safety and ergonomics (2000): Thirst and work capacity of older people in a hot environment. Int J Occup safety ergonomics, 2000; special issue: 135-142 7. Ainslie PN et al. (2011): Energy balance, metabolism, hydration and performance during strenuous hill walking : the effect of age. J Appl 2002; 93: 714-723 8. Beck LH. The aging kidney. Defending a delicate balance of fluid and electrolytes. Geriatrics 2000; 55: 26-329. Elmadfa et al. Body composition, changing physiological functions and nutrient requirements of the Elderly. Ann Nutr Metab 2008; 52 (suppl 1): 2-510. Ferry M. Strategies for insuring good hydration in the elderly. Nutrition Reviews, 2005: II: S22-S29

sticky mouth, muscle weakness, headache, sleepiness or tiredness.

Therefore, it is important to advise them to drink water regularly throughout the day, and to drink before they become thirsty10.

2. Age and impairment of kidney function

With age, the kidneys do not function as well and renal ability to concentrate urine decreases. In fact, between the ages of 30 and 80, there is often a 20 to 25% loss of renal mass8, most of which is from the cortex. Other changes explain the difficulty which kidneys have in adapting urine concentration. For example, the decrease of renal blood flow and of the glomerular filtration rate9.

When seniors are slightly dehydrated, they can feel the onset of some physical signs: thirst of course, but also a dry and

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Good hydration is importantfor the quality of life of seniors

Age can affect physical and cognitive functions. Water can’t solve this problem but it is necessary for seniors in their daily life. Indeed, maintaining good hydration is important for the whole body including the brain.

Water is vital for the whole body and is essential for health.

1. Water is essential for the brain

Water is the main component of the body. This is true for children and adults, but also for seniors, even though the percentage of water in the body gradually decreases with age. Water is everywhere. It hydrates every cell, every organ, including the brain. More than 2/3 of the brain* is made up of water11.

* 73% of an adult’s brain is made up of water.11. Mitchell HH et al. The chemical composition of the adult human body and its bearing on the biochemistry of growth. The Journal of Biological Chemistry, 1945: 625-637

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Therefore, it is important to recommend that your patients practice regular exercise and go to the toilets at the same time everyday either in the morning or after meals15.It is also advisable to eat more fruits, vegetables and whole grain foods as sources of fiber. Maintaining adequate fluid intake with fiber consumption is also recommended. Indeed the bulking effect of fibers consists in retaining water. Drinking enough water is a good habit to teach them16.

2. Intestinal comfort

It is common knowledge that elderly people are affected by problems with bowel movements and constipation12. People may experience feelings of heaviness, bowel discomfort... i.e. minor yet most unpleasant problems on a daily basis.

From the Suares study13, constipation affects between 11% and 18% of the people according to geographical region. And the prevalence of this disorder is even higher for women and older people. Constipation in the elderly has many potential causes, including a reduced fluid intake, malnutrition, reduced fiber intake, lack of physical activity, impaired mobility, side-effects of medication, an acute or chronic illness.

Evidence in both disease-specific and generic quality of life (QOL) instruments has shown that constipation is associated with impaired health-related quality of life14.

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3. Urinary incontinence

Urinary incontinence is an important topic as it has a real impact on daily life. It is a rather sensitive issue for women and especially for senior women17. In fact, urinary incontinence affects about 19% of women aged 19 to 44 years, 25% of those aged 45 to 64 years, and 30% of those aged 65 years and older18.

We know that there are many misconceptions about urinary incontinence! For example, fear of incontinence may lead people to decrease their water consumption.

How to define urinary incontinence?

Urinary incontinence is a symptom or sign of any involuntary loss of urine. Continence (storage of urine) is maintained when the urethral pressure is greater than the pressure inside the bladder itself (intravesical pressure)19. Urinary incontinence causes include structural changes in vesical muscle as well as impaired neural control and age-related changes of the lower urinary tract20.

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• Prescribing some physical rehabilitation therapies with a physiotherapist including musculation of the pelvic floor can also be useful for initial management of urinary incontinence18,23.

• It is also a good idea to advise your patients to take time for going regularly to the toilet.

Thus, it is important to help seniors stay well hydrated and recommend that they drink enough water, regularly throughout the day.

Adopting healthy habits can bring a real relief. • Drinking enough water throughout the day is important

for seniors to be well hydrated. A decrease in fluid intake should only be tried in patients

with abnormally high fluid intakes21, as a decrease in fluids may lead to urinary tract infections, constipation, or dehydration.

• Maintaining normal weight through adulthood may be an important factor in preventing the development of urinary incontinence especially in women, because overweight increases the pressure on the bladder and surrounding muscles.

12. MayoClinic: http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/dehydration/DS00561/DSECTION=symptoms 13. Suares NC, Ford AC. Prevalence of, and Risk Factors for, Chronic Idiopathic Constipation in the Community: Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. Am J Gastroenterol 2011; 106: 1582-1591.14. Rao S et al. Update on the management of constipation in the elderly: new treatment options. Clinical Interventions in Aging 2010: 5 163-171 15. Gallagher et al. Constipation in old age. Best Practice & Research clinical gastroenterology 2009; 23: 875-88716. Bouras EP and Tangalos EG. Chronic constipation in the elderly. Gastroenterol Clin N Am 2009; 38: 463-480.17. Norton P et al. Urinary incontinence in women. Lancet, 2006; 367: 57-67

18. Shamliyan TA et al. Systematic Review: Randomized, Controlled Trials of Nonsurgical Treatments for Urinary Incontinence in Women Ann Intern Med. 2008;148: 459-473 19. Glazener et al. Urodynamic studies for management of urinary incontinence in children and adults (review). The cocherane collaboration 2012; 1-4320. Goepel M et al. Urinary incontinence in the elderly. Deutsches Arzteblatt International 2010; 107: (30) 531-536 21. Hay Smith J. et al. Adult conservative management. In Incontinence. Edited by Abrams P, Cardozo L, Khoury S, Wein A. Paris: Health Publication Ltd. ; 2009:1025-1120 22. Rena RW et al. Improving urinary incontinence in overweight and obese women through modest weight loss. Obstet Gynecol. 2010 August; 116(2 Pt 1):284-29223. Thuroff JW et al. EAU Guidelines on urinary incontinence. Eur Urology 2011 ; 59:387-400

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Help them to stay well hydrated

1. Good hydration is importantfor the whole body

Drinking water helps to maintain the water balance. Every day, water loss must be compensated by sufficient intake of water3. That is why it is important for your patients to remain properly hydrated.

A healthy sedentary adult living in a temperate climate loses 2l to 3l of water a day, mainly from urine. But other vectors are also responsible for the body water loss: the skin, the respiratory tract and, at a low level, the digestive system. It is important to compensate those losses by a sufficient water intake.Our body produces water by metabolism and gets water from food but this is not sufficient to fulfill the body needs. So an adult should drink, on average, 1.5l of water a day**.

Healthy adults regulate water balance with precision, but water turnover in the elderly can be compromised.

**For a healthy sedentary adult living in temperate climate

Water balance for adults

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the day and explain to them the importance of drinking 1.5l**, the equivalent of 8 glasses*** of water per day10. The daily needs are even higher when the outside temperature increases or when the inside temperature is overheated.

With ageing, all the parameters of water metabolism undergo changes and so, the water balance evolves. Elderly people show lower non-renal water losses (mainly due to lower sweat losses); at the same time renal concentration capacity becomes impaired, resulting in an increased obligatory urine volume. Because eating habits are changing, the volume of water obtained from food increases slightly with age whereas the metabolic water decreases. So the water balance remains nearly the same and the water intake recommandations can be maintained24.But water input can be reduced due to the diminution of the thirst sensation and appetite. Therefore it is important to teach your patients the healthy habit of drinking regularly throughout

Remind your patients to drink before being thirsty.

In fact, when the sensation of thirst arises, the body is already slightly dehydrated.

** For a healthy sedentary adult living in temperate climate *** One glass=20cl

Water balance for seniors

24. Manz et al. water balance throughout the adult life span in a German population. British Journal of Nutrition 2011; 1-9

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2. Give them a tip to check their hydration level

Observing the colour of urine is an easy and rapid way to assess whether someone is properly hydrated2,3.

If urine is dark-coloured rather than pale yellow, it might mean that the patient is not drinking enough.The urine colour can be affected by certain foods, vitamin supplements or medical treatment.

To help them drink8 glasses** of water per day, give them simple daily landmarks :

** For a healthy sedentary adult living in temperate climate - one glass = 20cl

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www.nestlenutrition-institute.org

Healthy Ageing:why is being well hydratedso important?

healthy ageing: why is being well hydrated so important?

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