Year: 2010
Type: dissertation
Abstract: Adequate fluid consumption is central to human survival. Previous literature suggests that there some misconceptions regarding hydration and fluid balance in some populations. Available data also show that the role of thirst sensations in\nmaintaining fluid balance in different settings is also equivocal. Therefore, this\nthesis aimed to examine the perception of hydration, thirst and fluid intake in freeliving populations, to examine the feasibility of thirst as a marker of hydration status and to investigate the effect of thirst related sensations on fluid balance in resting and exercising individuals under different ambient temperatures. The findings in this thesis (Chapter 3) show that individuals who work within the fitness industry demonstrated substantial knowledge about drinking practices, hydration status and health consequences of water consumption, but lack\nunderstanding on the type of beverages that adequately hydrate the body. Further,\nthirst perception and mood states did not affect (P>0.05) the fluid intake in free\nliving individuals (Chapter 4) and resting individuals under cool and warm\nexposure (Chapter 6), but some other factors such as subjective feelings of mouth\ndryness and the extent of hydration status might influence the fluid intake\nbehaviour in these populations. In addition, following ingestion of flavoured\ncarbohydrate drinks, thirst sensations was rated lower over time (P<0.05) during\nexercise in the cool, but was higher over time in the warm temperature (Chapter\n7). Moreover, subjective feelings related to dehydration such as mouth dryness,\nthirst perception, desire to drink (water pleasantness) and hunger rating could be\nused as index of hydration status to signify at least a 1% body mass loss due to\nfood and fluid restriction in resting individuals (Chapter 5). In conclusion, the\nfindings in this thesis provide some new insight with respect to hydration, thirst\nand fluid balance in different populations under different settings. Nevertheless,\nsome inconclusive findings regarding the role of thirst related sensations in fluid\nbalance require further investigations.
Author: Normah Jusoh
Language: English
Subfield: Physiology (medical)
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W294242819