Hydration: the review of 3 trials

Abstract

The concepts of forced hydration and excessive forced hydration are discussed in the article. The authors emphasize that excessive forced hydration has a proven track record in improving the quali­ty of life for dehydrated people. In case of normovolemia, there is no evidence of quality improvement and prolongation of life when excessive forced hydration is used. The issue of forced hydration in chronic kidney disease (CKD) is considered separately. Three randomized clinical trials were analyzed in which patients with CKD stage 1–2, 3 and 4–5 received forced hydration. The results of studies indicate the possible efficacy of forced hydration in stage 1–2 CKD in patients with normal or increased renal functional reserve. In stage 3 CKD, forced hydration showed no benefits, and in stage 4–5 CKD, it resulted in greater renal function loss. Summarizing these data, the authors concluded that it is probably appropriate for healthy people to consume the amount of fluid that provides physiological diuresis of 1.2–1.8 L and normal urine osmolarity. Forced hydration is often excessive, excessive forced hydration may not promote a healthy lifestyle. Forced hydration becomes excessive forced hydration as kidney function decreases. Possibly, the benefits of forced hydration are lost in CKD with progression of renal function loss. The effect of forced hydration for 12 months may be positive in stage 1 CKD and stage 2 CKD with normal renal functional reserve. Forced hydration is probably inexpedient in chronic stages 3–5.