Dehydration and Death

Water is one of the important nutrients for health. The human body needs water to live healthy and active. The human body can only survive for a week without water.
Approximately 55 to 75 percent of our body consists of water. Fluid balance becomes negative or dehydration occurs when water bodies decreased 2-6 percent. Dehydration due to decreased water intake, increased spending on water from the body (kidneys and digestive tract), or transfer of liquids. The clinical manifestations of dehydration is most closely related to decreased intravascular volume and subsequently can lead to organ failure and death.

"The need of water each person is different, depending on where he lives. He lives in what country, also daily activities, "said Laurent Le Bellego, PhD from the Danone Group of France in the International Congress of Nutrition Top-19 in Bangkok, Thailand, beginning in October 2009.

According to Le Bellego, the amount of water that must be taken every person so that no dehydration is different. In France people are encouraged to drink water as much as 1,500 milliliters (ml) per day. In Great Britain there are even two agencies issued a different statement. The British Dietic Association recommends drinking water 1500 ml, 2500 ml per day, while The British Nutrition Foundation recommends drinking water 1500 ml, 2000 ml per day.

"In Mexico people are encouraged to drink 2,000 ml of water per day, in Canada 3000 ml per day, in Australia 2600 ml per day, and in New Zealand 2100 ml per day. World Health Organization (WHO) itself recommends 1500 ml of drinking water per day, "said Le Bellego.

The difference is the amount of water depends on the climate, situation, and type of food consumed.
"The way a person lives, how he ate and drank, it is very important. Most people underestimate the amount of water that must be taken every day because its effects are not immediately visible. Without them knowing it, they can suffer from dehydration. And dehydration is very dangerous, "he added.

Water does not just relieve thirst, but also function as solvents, catalysts, lubricants, regulating body temperature, a provider of minerals, and electrolytes to the body.

Disruption of brain function
Dehydration can lead to disturbances in brain function, such as concentration and thinking ability. Physically able to lower the stamina and productivity through disturbance headache, lethargy, weakness, seizures, unconscious. In the long term dehydration can cause urinary tract infections and kidney stones occur.

Prof. Dr. Ridwan Hardinsyah, MS, Dean of the Faculty of Human Ecology IPB, present at The International Congress of Nutrition 19 states, water is actually part and equally important nutrients such as carbohydrates, proteins, fats, vitamins, and minerals. However, this is often forgotten. Lack of water intake can lead to physical disorders. School children who are less intake of water will experience cognitive decline and risk of renal impairment in the future.

"Intake of pure water with a target volume of 2 liters of urine can prevent recurrence of urinary tract stones. Intake of large volumes of pure water, accompanied not resist the urge to urinate, is one way to prevent urinary tract infections, "said Dr. Dr. Parlindungan Siregar, SpPD KGH Kidney Hypertension Division of the Department of Medicine Faculty of Medicine, University of Indonesia / Jakarta Mangukusumo Cipto Hospital .The results Regional Indonesian Hydration Study (Thirst) in 2008 led Prof. Hardinsyah exhibited in the International Congress of Nutrition in Bangkok. Research in North Jakarta and Lembang, West Java, it uses the total sample of 400 people. Genesis 15-42 percent dehydration. Average of 30 percent dehydration. "Three out of 10 samples are dehydrated," said Hardinsyah.

Research in 2009 to take samples of 1,200 people at four locations in Indonesia: Jakarta, West Java, East Java and South Sulawesi, as well as grouped on the two ecological regions, namely the lowlands (Jakarta, Surabaya and Makassar) and plateau (Lembang, poor, and Malino).

Samples were teenagers and adult men and women with the inclusion criteria teenagers 15-18 years and adults 25-55 years old. The results showed, the number of adolescents who experience mild dehydration is higher, namely 49.5 percent, 42.5 percent compared to adults.

"The main cause of this problem is the lack of knowledge of the subjects / samples studied about the function of the body of water, drinking water, drinking water for health benefits, and access to drinking water. Adult subjects had better knowledge than adolescent subjects, "he added.

"Prize for Nutrition"
In front of the International Nutrition Congress forum in Bangkok, the 7th award Danone Danone International Prize for Nutrition to researchers from Belgium, Prof. Johan Auwerx of the Federal Polytechnic School of Lausanne, Switzerland. It began to be given the award in 1997. In 2005 awarded to Prof. David Barker of the University of Southampton, England, and in 2007 awarded to Prof. Jeffrey Friedman of Rockefeller University, New York, USA.

Prof. Johan Auwerx received an award for his discovery about the mechanisms of nutrient "communicate" with the body's cells in a way similar to the hormones of the body, such as by removing body fat. This discovery opens the way for new prevention and therapeutic strategies against obesity and cardiometabolic diseases, such as type 2 diabetes and hypertension.

Prof Auwerx said, his research takes time and is expected to be applied to future drug development. Not only drugs, he also gives attention to prevention through nutrition.

When notified, won research awards and prizes he received 120,000 euros, he plans to continue his studies with the fund.

"The gift will take us on a stage further, experiments in vivo (in living things) and I have great hopes for the known benefits of vitamin B3 to combat obesity," he said.