WATER'S POWERFUL ATTRIBUTES

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WATER'S POWERFUL ATTRIBUTES 



Researchers find it helps with various conditions, from obesity to migraine.

    

Recommendations to drink plenty of water have been a common practice for decades. The importance of hydration may have more significant health consequences than initially thought.

Now, researchers at UC San Francisco have systematically examined the available evidence. They concluded that drinking enough water can help with weight loss and prevent kidney stones, migraines, urinary tract infections, and low blood pressure.

"For such a ubiquitous and simple intervention, the evidence hasn't been clear and the benefits were not well-established, so we wanted to take a closer look," said senior and corresponding author Benjamin Breyer, MD, MAS, the Taube Family Distinguished Professor and chair of the UCSF Department of Urology.

"The amount of rigorous research turned out to be limited, but in some specific areas, there was a statistically significant benefit," Breyer said. "To our knowledge, this is the first study assessing the benefits of water consumption on clinical outcomes broadly."

The study, which analyzed 18 randomized controlled trials, appears Nov. 25 in JAMA Network Open.

The researchers found the most evidence in favor of drinking water to prevent kidney stones and to help people lose weight.

Drinking eight cups of water daily significantly decreased the likelihood of getting another kidney stone.

Several studies found that drinking about six cups of water daily helped adults lose weight. However, a survey that included adolescents found that drinking more than eight cups of water daily had no effect.

Still, the authors said encouraging people to drink water before meals would be a simple and cheap intervention that could have huge benefits, given the increased prevalence of obesity.

Other studies indicated that water can help prevent migraines, control diabetes, lower blood pressure, and prevent urinary tract infections.

Adults with recurrent headaches felt better after three months of drinking more water.

Drinking about four more cups of water a day helped diabetic patients whose blood glucose levels were elevated.

Drinking six cups of water daily helps women with recurrent urinary tract infections. It reduces the number of infections and increases the time between them.

Drinking more water helped young adults with low blood pressure.

"We know that dehydration is detrimental, particularly in someone with a history of kidney stones or urinary infections," said Breyer, a UCSF Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics member. "On the other hand, someone who suffers from frequent urination at times may benefit from drinking less. There isn't a one-size-fits-all approach for water consumption."


Original written by Elizabeth Fernandez. 

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