How much plain water should we drink to stay healthy into old age?
Edited by:
Jodi D. Stookey (Water & HydrationTranslational Epidemiological Research, LLC, San Francisco, USA &Paracelsus Medical University, Austria)
Lee Hooper (University of East Anglia,UK)
Ines Drenjančević (Faculty of Medicine Osijek, Josip Juraj Strossmayer University,Croatia)
Markus Ritter (Paracelsus Medical University, Austria & Kathmandu University,Nepal)
For decades, this question has sparked global debate, despite clear scientific evidence available, clearly linking adequate intake of plain water to lower incidence of a broad spectrum of chronic health conditions. While many health authorities around the world provide guidance on total water intake, i.e. water from all beverages and food (which is, however, a rather inconvenient compass to for daily life orientation) there is a remarkable gap of such recommendations for drinking plain water. Adequate intake of plain water is clearly linked to lower incidence of a broad spectrum of chronic health condition, research shows.
With climate change increasing the risk of under hydration and dehydration, and rising rates of chronic disease putting pressure on health systems worldwide, filling the evidence gaps on hydration and health is more urgent than ever.
In December 2024, leading scientists from Austria, Germany, Croatia, Sweden, the U.S., U.K., and Singapore convened at Paracelsus Medical University in Salzburg, Austria, under the EU-funded Erasmus+ Blended Intensive Program. Together with students from 12 countries, they explored interdisciplinary approaches to hydration research, spanning cellular mechanisms to public health policy.
To advance this vital field, we invite contributions to our Special Issue on Water Requirements for Health, which will serve as both Proceedings of this meeting and a broader collection of cutting-edge research. We welcome:
- Original Research Articles
- Reviews & Mini-Reviews
- Methods Papers
- Perspectives & Opinions
Topics include, but are not limited to:
- Cellular and subcellular hydration regulation
- Whole-body salt and water homeostasis
- Hydration epidemiology
- Drinking water interventions & public health policy
Submissions now open! Join us in advancing hydration science and help to inform policy.
