Hydration for adults: Rapid rehydration with Hydratis
Hydration in adults aged 50 and over is a health and well-being issue that should not be overlooked
In 2018, a guideline from ESPEN (European Society for Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism) was published regarding nutrition and hydration in geriatrics. It states that women should drink at least 1.6 L of water per day and men 2.0 L of water per day. Nevertheless, this recommendation is only very rarely and almost never respected and therefore leads to more or less significant episodes of dehydration.
Proper hydration is essential to maintain a stable physiological balance. It allows the proper functioning of the organs responsible for the evacuation of waste such as the kidneys
The symptoms of dehydration are well known; dry mouth, headaches and low energy or muscle fatigue. In some cases, simply drinking enough water more regularly will be enough to remedy this. It is estimated that 3 out of 4 people experience one or more of these symptoms of dehydration daily without necessarily being associated with dehydration.
It is therefore necessary to be vigilant in all situations that may lead to a significant water need such as periods of high heat, heat waves, pathologies resulting in diarrhea or vomiting or simply prolonged forgetting to hydrate. It is important to remember that it is advisable to drink 2L of water per day on average and more during the situations mentioned.
Why are seniors more prone to dehydration than adults?
In older people, the risk of dehydration is greater than in adults for a multitude of reasons:
First, the symptoms (or signals) are less and less perceptible, for example, the feeling of thirst is lessened, nevertheless, the physiological need is very real to him.
Second, water storage capacity reduces with age. Indeed, with age, lean body mass and muscle mass decrease, which results in a decrease in overall water mass, and thus a lower quantity of available water. To this can be added more significant water losses due to a physiological renal alteration or to the taking of diuretic drugs.
All of these factors, physiological and external, lead to the same conclusion; the risk of dehydration increases with advancing age.
The alteration of the renal capacities of concentration and dilution of the urines can be due to an insufficient vascularization or to the reduction of the nephron capital. This leads to a decrease in glomerular filtration. Among other things, the kidneys will need more water to eliminate as many toxins. If the amount of water absorbed is not sufficient, there is therefore an accumulation of toxins in the body.
The elderly therefore very often find themselves faced with a real mismatch between intake and needs, leading to dehydration which can prove to be morbid or fatal in extreme cases.
It is for all these reasons that the hydration of seniors must be monitored, supported and improved.
Hydratis 50+ is the first rehydration solution suitable for people aged 50 to 99+
Rehydration solutions increase the osmolarity of the fluid; and therefore the quantity of active particles in the latter. These molecules are said to be osmotically active when they cause a movement of water, here this movement allows intestinal absorption.
The Hydratis 50+ range is composed of glucose and several electrolytes (Sodium, Carbohydrates, Chloride, Potassium, Magnesium and Citrate), which allow better reabsorption of water and the supply of essential electrolytes for the well-being of patients. .
-
Sodium and Carbohydrates : Increases osmolarity to improve the assimilation of liquids by the body.
-
Potassium : Contributes to muscle recovery and the proper functioning of the nervous system.
-
Magnesium : Helps reduce fatigue, electrolyte balance and good muscle recovery.
-
Chloride : Contributes to normal digestion through the production of hydrochloric acid in the stomach.
The scientific principle of rehydration solutions
Hydratis is an oral rehydration solution (ORS) whose main role is the rehydration of the elderly by promoting the supply and proper distribution of water in the body.
This is because the use of glucose and salt in oral rehydration solution preparations ensures the fastest absorption of water and electrolytes in the gut. The efficacy of ORS is based on the ability of glucose to stimulate the absorption of sodium and fluids in the small intestine through a mechanism implementing a process independent of cyclic AMP.
Absorption of electrolytes occurs in the villous cells, while secretion in the crypt cells. The increase in intracellular cAMP (cyclic adenosine monophosphate) inhibits the absorption of NaCl (sodium chloride) in the villous cells and stimulates the active secretion of Cl (chlorine) and/or HCO3 (bicarbonate) in the cells of the crypt.
In contrast, glucose-stimulated Na(sodium) uptake in villous cells was unaffected by increases in intracellular cAMP. Thus, glucose enhances Na and fluid absorption despite continued stimulation of Cl secretion and inhibition of NaCl absorption.
It is known that a low level of electrolytes in the dehydrated elderly person requires the intake of isotonic fluids (fluids containing concentrations of sodium, potassium and glucose similar to those of the body) or hypotonic fluids (fluids containing concentrations of sodium, potassium and glucose lower than those of the body).
For elderly people who are vulnerable to certain electrolyte abnormalities, particularly in sodium, potassium and magnesium linked to age-related renal changes, it is interesting to provide magnesium in sufficient quantity, in addition to sodium and potassium, in order to compensate for potential renal losses.
To overcome these electrolyte anomalies, in the Hydratis 50+ product there is magnesium in the form of citrate which is ideal for its solubility in water, in order to improve the dissolution of the product in the drink. In addition, magnesium citrate contains a lower amount of magnesium (about 17%), which is ideal for limiting the risk of hypomagnesemia in the elderly.
By oral route, it is thus possible to consider rehydration of the elderly through ORS rather than rehydration with only water. A standardized formulation made it possible to obtain a rehydration solution with reduced osmolarity (obtained by decreasing the concentrations of glucose and NaCl) in order to eliminate the possible undesirable effects of the hypotonicity of the solution on the absorption of liquids. According to the WHO, these oral rehydration salt solutions are the only justifiable and adequate treatment for adults.
The composition of Hydratis 50+ complies with WHO recommendations (WHO/UNICEF, 2006), and is adapted to the electrolyte needs of the elderly. It should be noted that the composition of Hydratis 50+ also complies with regulations (Regulations 609/2013 and 2016/128 and 2016/127). Dosage variability between the different products appears depending on the flavor provided.
In case of dehydration or prevention, all aromas combined, the method of consumption described on the packaging is to dilute the contents of a Hydratis 50+ sachet in 250 mL of low mineral water in a glass of clean water, and to consume the solution in small sips, respecting the quantities determined by the doctor. It is recommended to drink up to 8 sachets per day with 2 liters of water.