The Impact of Adequate Water Intake on Exercise Performance and Mood in Women and Men

Dehydration is defined as the state of water deficit due to excessive water losses and/or small water intake. Underhydration is the result of inadequate water intake leading to activation of water hormonal homeostasis, characterized by elevated vasopressin, lower urinary output, and concentrated urine without any measurable changes in total body water. It is well established that dehydration (water deficit) decreases exercise performance and worsens mood, mainly in women. However, the impact of increased water intake in underhydrated individuals on their exercise capacity and mood is not known. The aim of the proposed study is to investigate the impact of increased water intake in underhydrated individuals on aerobic exercise performance and mood in both women and men.