Body hydration status assessment: Sweat, tears, urine, saliva and salt taste sensitivity

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  • IRIBE Yuka
    National Institute of Technology, Ariake College Faculty of Human-environment Studies, Kyushu University
  • SAITO Atsushi
    Faculty of Human-environment Studies, Kyushu University

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Description

Heat illness is increasingly recognized as a serious condition. Preventing dehydration is the most important factor in preventing heat illness because the body's ability to regulate body temperature does not function properly when body fluids are inadequate. Although it is important to understand body hydration status to implement a hydration strategy, relying on subjective thirst for hydration will not help maintain proper body hydration. Methods exist to measure body weight and plasma osmolality as indicators of body hydration status; however, the portability and invasive nature of these devices limit their use. Therefore, the purpose of this review was to examine sweat, tears, urine, saliva, and salt taste sensitivity as new non-invasive and simple indicators to assess dehydration, as an alternative to blood. / In recent years, the collection and analysis of sweat has been facilitated by patches and wearable devices; however, it is difficult to compare this to the state preceding sweat. Tear fluid is isotonic to blood and reflect changes immediately; however, there is a paucity of studies on this topic and further research is needed. Urine collection is uncomplicated and samples can be analyzed expeditiously; nevertheless, urine-specific gravity measurement requires specialized equipment and takes time before it reflects dehydration. The indicator of salty taste sensitivity has recently garnered significant interest, and it is believed that dehydration can enhance the sensitivity to salty tastes. However, the underlying mechanism remains debatable. To ensure the reliability of salt taste sensitivity as an indicator of body hydration status, it is necessary to compare it with other physiological indicators and to examine its validity.

Journal

  • 健康科学

    健康科学 47 23-32, 2025-03-20

    九州大学健康科学編集委員会

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