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  • Original Article
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Body composition, energy expenditure and physical activity

Reliability of 24-h void frequency as an index of hydration status when euhydrated and hypohydrated

European Journal of Clinical Nutrition volume 70, pages 908–911 (2016)Cite this article

Subjects

Abstract

Background/Objectives:

Void frequency (VF) is significantly correlated to hydration status, but it is unknown whether VF is reliable when an individual is repeatedly euhydrated (EU) or hypohydrated (HY). The purpose of this study was to test the reliability of VF when individuals were EU or HY on multiple occasions.

Subjects/Methods:

Fourteen males (age 22±2 years, mass 79.1±12.8 kg) completed three EU trials achieved with 24-h ad libitum fluid intake, and 14 males (age 22±2 years, mass 78.6±10.4 kg) completed three HY trials achieved with 24-h fluid restriction. Twenty-four hour urine was collected and analyzed for specific gravity (USG) and VF. Subjects voided at a ‘normal urgency’ (rated a ‘2’ on a 0–4 perceptual scale) throughout each 24-h period.

Results:

Twenty-four hour USG was greater and VF was lower when HY (1.026±0.003 and 5±2, respectively) versus EU (1.014±0.003 and 7±2; both P<0.05). Intra-class correlations for VF between the three trials at each hydration status were deemed acceptable (0.863 and 0.849 for EU and HY, respectively). Within-subject coefficients of variation for VF were 15±9 and 21±14% for the EU and HY trials.

Conclusions:

VF is a reliable index of 24-h hydration status when healthy young males are EU or HY and voiding at a consistent ‘urgency’.

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Acknowledgements

We express our sincere gratitude to the subjects for their dedicated participation throughout the duration of the study. This study was funded by the University of Arkansas Honors College.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Health, Human Performance, and Recreation, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR, USA

    M A Tucker, M A Gonzalez, J D Adams, J M Burchfield, N E Moyen, F B Robinson, B A Schreiber & M S Ganio

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  1. M A Tucker
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  2. M A Gonzalez
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  3. J D Adams
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  4. J M Burchfield
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Correspondence to M S Ganio.

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Tucker, M., Gonzalez, M., Adams, J. et al. Reliability of 24-h void frequency as an index of hydration status when euhydrated and hypohydrated. Eur J Clin Nutr 70, 908–911 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1038/ejcn.2015.233

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