According to a National Institutes of Health (NIH) study, adults who stay well-hydrated appear to be healthier, suffer from fewer chronic diseases like heart and lung disease, and live longer than those who don’t get enough fluids. Researchers have found that good hydration levels may be the key to a longer, healthier life.
Using health data collected from 11,255 adults over 30 years, researchers analyzed associations between serum sodium levels which rise as fluid intake decreases and various health indicators. The researchers found that adults with serum sodium levels at the upper end of the normal range were more likely to develop chronic conditions and show signs of advanced biological aging than those with serum sodium levels in the middle ranges. Adults with higher levels are also more likely to die at a younger age.
the study said “For the analysis, the researchers evaluated the information the study participants shared during five medical visits — the first two when they were 50 years old and the last when they were 70-90 years old, to make a fair comparison of how hydration correlates with health outcomes, the researchers excluded adults who had high serum sodium levels at baseline checks or with underlying conditions, such as obesity, that could affect serum sodium levels”.
Natalia Dmitrieva, study author and researcher at the Laboratory of Cardiovascular Regenerative Medicine at the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) says “The results suggest that proper hydration can slow aging and prolong disease-free life”.
The researchers then evaluated how serum sodium levels correlated with biological aging, which was assessed using 15 health markers. This included factors such as systolic blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar, which provided insight into how well each person’s cardiovascular, respiratory, metabolic, renal and immune systems were functioning. The study also reported that they adjusted for factors such as age, race, biological sex, smoking and hypertension.
They found that adults with higher levels of normal serum sodium with the normal range falling between 135-146 milliequivalents per liter (mEq/L)were more likely to show signs of faster biological aging. This was based on indicators such as metabolic and cardiovascular health, lung function and inflammation.
For example, adults with serum sodium levels above 142 mEq/L were 10–15 percent more likely to be biologically older than their chronological age compared with ranges between 137–142 mEq/L, while levels above 144 mEq /l correlated with a 50 percent increase. Likewise, levels of 144.5-146 mEq/L were associated with a 21% increased risk of premature death compared with ranges between 137-142 mEq/L, the study said.
Similarly, adults with serum sodium levels above 142 mEq/L had up to a 64 percent increased associated risk of developing chronic diseases such as heart failure, stroke, atrial fibrillation, and peripheral artery disease, as well as chronic lung disease, diabetes, and dementia. . Conversely, adults with serum sodium levels between 138-140 mEq/L had the lowest risk of developing chronic disease, the study said.
The findings do not demonstrate a causal effect, the researchers noted. Randomized, controlled trials are needed to determine whether optimal hydration can promote healthy aging, prevent disease, and lead to longer life. However, associations can still inform clinical practice and guide personal health behavior.
Manfred Boehm, study author and director of the Laboratory of Cardiovascular Regenerative Medicine says “ The goal of medical counseling is to make sure patients are getting enough fluids while also assessing factors such as medications that may lead to fluid loss,Physicians may need to step back from a patient’s current treatment plan, such as fluid restriction for heart failure”.
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