Human Hydration Status Monitoring

The sports medicine literature provides a consensus on what threshold values constitute euhydration (normal body water) using a variety of hydration assessment markers (e.g., blood, urine). The investigators add to this literature by providing decision levels for multiple body fluids which can be used as starting points for diagnosing and treating dehydration. At present, plasma osmolality (Posm) provides the best potential measure for static dehydration assessment (spot measure), while dynamic dehydration assessment (serial monitoring) is best accomplished using change values for Posm, urine specific gravity, or body mass (weight). These findings should be considered useful for clinical, military, and sports medicine communities.