Research suggests that people who drink more water appear to live longer and develop fewer chronic diseases.
Using health data collected from 11,255 adults over a 30-year period, researchers analyzed the association between serum sodium levels (which rise when water intake decreases) and various measures of health. .
They found that adults with serum sodium levels in the high end of the normal range were more likely to develop chronic disease and show signs of advanced biological aging than adults with moderate range. .
Adults with higher levels were also more likely to die at a younger age, researchers said.
The peer-reviewed findings from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the US medical research agency, were published Monday in the eBioMedicine journal.
“The results suggest that adequate hydration may slow aging and prolong a disease-free life,” said study author and cardiovascular health expert at the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI). said Natalia Dmitrieva, a researcher at the Institute of Regenerative Medicine. NIH (National Institutes of Health, USA).
NHS recommends 6-8 drinks per day
The authors did not define ‘adequate hydration’, but according to NHS England, you should drink 6 to 8 drinks per day, including water, low-fat milk, tea and coffee.
In March, scientists published a study that found a link between higher ranges of normal serum sodium levels and an increased risk of heart failure.
A new study evaluated information shared by participants during five medical visits, the first two in their 50s and the last two in those aged 70-90.
They excluded adults who had high levels of serum sodium at baseline check-in or had underlying medical conditions such as obesity that could affect serum sodium levels.
We then assessed how levels correlated with biological aging. This was assessed by 15 health markers.
They include factors such as systolic blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar, providing insight into how well each person’s cardiovascular, respiratory, metabolic, renal, and immune systems are functioning. provided.
We also adjusted for factors such as age, race, biological sex, smoking status, and hypertension.
They found that adults with higher levels of normal serum sodium (with a normal range of 135 to 146 milliequivalents per liter (mEq/L)) were more likely to show signs of faster biological aging. Did.
This is based on indicators such as metabolic and cardiovascular health, lung function and inflammation, they said.