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Urinary Indices of Hydration Status

in International Journal of Sport Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism

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Lawrence E. Armstrong

Lawrence E. Armstrong
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Carl M. Maresh

Carl M. Maresh
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John W. Castellani

John W. Castellani
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Michael F. Bergeron

Michael F. Bergeron
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Robert W. Kenefick

Robert W. Kenefick
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Kent E. LaGasse

Kent E. LaGasse
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Deborah Riebe

Deborah Riebe
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DOI:: https://doi.org/10.1123/ijsn.4.3.265

Keywords:: urine osmolality; urine specific gravity; plasma osmolality; plasma sodium; hematocrit; dehydration

In Print:: Volume 4: Issue 3

Page Range:: 265–279

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Athletes and researchers could benefit from a simple and universally accepted technique to determine whether humans are well-hydrated, euhydrated, or hypohydrated. Two laboratory studies (A, B) and one field study (C) were conducted to determine if urine color ( $U^{col}$ ) indicates hydration status accurately and to clarify the interchangeability of $U_{col}$ , urine osmolality ( $U^{osm}$ ), and urine specific gravity ( $U^{sg}$ ) in research. $U_{col}$ , $U_{osm}$ , and $U_{sg}$ were not significantly correlated with plasma osmolality, plasma sodium, or hemato-crit. This suggested that these hematologic measurements are not as sensitive to mild hypohydration (between days) as the selected urinary indices are. When the data from A, B, and C were combined, $U_{col}$ was strongly correlated with $U_{hg}$ and U„_sm. It was concluded that (a) $U_{col}$ may be used in athletic/industrial settings or field studies, where close estimates of $U_{sg}$ or $U_{osm}$ are acceptable, but should not be utilized in laboratories where greater precision and accuracy are required, and (b) $U_{osm}$ and $U_{sg}$ may be used interchangeably to determine hydration status.

^*The authors are with The University of Connecticut Human Performance Laboratory, 2095 Hillside Rd., Stoms, CT 06269-1110.

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