Home / Water / Water Functions, Absorption and Excretion

Water Functions, Absorption and Excretion

Water Functions in the Human Body

The water in your body enables:

  • The flow of the blood, lymph, the fluid around the brain and spinal cord, gastric and pancreatic juice and bile
  • Urination and thus disposal of waste substances from the body
  • Chemical reactions between nutrients and other substances
  • Dissociation of minerals into charged particles (ions) and their flow across the cell membranes and thus conduction of electrical signals along the nerves and muscle contractions
  • Sweating and thus heat regulation
  • Moisturization of the skin, eyes and mucous membranes in the respiratory, gastrointestinal, urinary and genital tract
  • Lubrication of the joints

Chart 1. How much water is in the human body?

Age (Body Weight) Average Total Body Water (TBW)
Newborn (6.6 lbs or 3 kg) 75% (2.2 L)
One year (22 lbs or 10 kg) 60% (6.5 L)
Male 19-50 years (154 lbs or 70 kg) 60% (42 L)
Male 51+ years (154 lbs or 70 kg) 55% (38.5 L)
Female 19-50 years (143 lbs or 65 kg) 50% (32.5 L)
Female 51+ years (143 lbs or 65 kg) 45% (29 L)
An obese adult (220 lbs or 100 kg) 45% (45 L)

Chart 1 source: [1]

How is the amount of water in your body controlled?

Two main hormones that regulate the amount of water in your body are antidiuretic hormone (ADH) and aldosterone.

When the amount of water in your body falls, your blood volume decreases and your blood sodium level increases, what stimulates the pituitary gland to secrete the antidiuretic hormone (ADH), which reduces water loss through the kidneys [3]. The decrease of the blood volume also stimulates the adrenal gland to secrete the hormone aldosterone, which reduces sodium and thus water excretion through the kidneys. The fall of blood pressure also stimulates aldosterone secretion and thus water retention, which helps to increase blood pressure [55].

Water Absorption

The flow of water from the stomach into the small intestine (gastric emptying) is limited to about 1-1.5 liters per hour and may vary a lot among individuals [15,16,49].

The absorption of water in the intestine is limited to about 20 liters per day, from this about 15 liters in the small intestine and 5 liters in the large intestine (colon) [4].

Factors that STIMULATE water absorption:

  • The greater the fluid volume in the stomach the faster its emptying from the stomach [6].
  • Carbohydrates in concentrations up to 6% added to water stimulate water absorption [9]. A combination of different carbohydrates, for example glucose and fructose, stimulates water absorption more than either carbohydrate alone [53].
  • Walking or exercise up to 70% maximal intensity moderately stimulates gastric emptying of water and thus its absorption [5].

Factors that SLOW DOWN water absorption:

  • Carbohydrates in concentration greater than 6-8% added to water slow emptying of water from the stomach and therefore its absorption [8,9,10,11,12,13]. A 10% carbohydrate solution may empty from the stomach 50% slower than water [14,17,24].
  • During hard exercise (>70% intensity) such as in competitive cycling, as little as 500 mL of water per hour may be absorbed [50,52].
  • In chronic alcoholics, the absorption of sodium and hence water may be reduced; this may result in diarrhea [20].
  • Health disorders with diarrhea

Factors that do not significantly affect water absorption of beverages: carbonation [21,22,23], sodium content [9,25] and osmolality within 200-400 mosm/kg range [51,54].

How do you lose water?

Chart 2. Minimal (Obligatory) and Maximal Water Loss

THE WAY OF WATER LOSS MINIMAL water loss (healthy, sedentary adult, regular diet, no sweating)
(milliliters/day)
MAXIMAL water loss (milliliters/day Comments
Urine 400-1,100 ~20,000 A young adult on an average American diet needs to excrete at least about 400 mL urine, an old man 700 mL and an old woman 1,100 mL urine per day to get rid of waste products of metabolism (urea, creatinine). The kidneys of a healthy adult can excrete up to 0.6-1.5 liter of water per hour or 14-20 liters per day [27,28].
Stool 100-200 ~20,000 The stools from foods high in soluble fiber (oatmeal, barley, beans, Brussel’s sprouts) contain more water than low-fiber foods. In severe diarrhea, as much as 20 liters of water per day may be lost.
Sweat 0 ~20,000 In a cold or moderate climate you might not sweat at all. In tropics, a moderately active person may need about 5 liters water per day and a physical worker 10 liters per shift or as much as 20 liters per day [2]. An athlete in a hot climate may excrete more than 3 liters of sweat per hour [29]. Sweating increases with the individual sweat rate, basal metabolic rate, body temperature, heat acclimatization, ambient temperature, direct exposure to sun, wind, clothing and physical and mental activity [2]. Sweating decreases with dehydration and high relative air humidity [2].
Insensible evaporation from skin 450-1,900 ~2,500 Water loss by breathing is increased by breathing volume, breathing through mouth (40% greater water loss), and dry air [26]. Every 100 Calories burnt are associated with 50 milliliters water loss by breathing and insensible evaporation [30].
Breath 250-350
Metabolic water produced (water gain) – 250-350 – 600 Water produced in your body during metabolism [31]
NET WATER LOSS (total water loss minus metabolic water) 950-3,200  20,000+ A healthy young sedentary adult on an average American diet living in a moderate climate needs at least 1 liter water per day (from beverages and foods) to replace the water lost from the body [32].

Chart 2 source: [26]

The Effects of Diet on the Urine Excretion (Diuresis)

A healthy adult normally excretes 800-2,000 mL of urine per day [34]. Excretion of less than 800 mL per day is called oliguria and more than 3 liters per day in adults or 2 liters in children is called polyuria. The urination rate may range from no urine in acute kidney failure to more than 20 liters per day due to excessive drinking, diabetes mellitus or insipidus or other health disorders [8].

Water. When you are healthy and well hydrated, any additional water you take with beverages or foods will be excreted with the urine within few hours. When you are dehydrated, some water you take will stay in your body but some of it will be excreted by urine in order to remove the waste products of metabolism from your body.

Salt (sodium). Water can stay in your body few hours longer if you consume it along with sodium (in sport drinks or salty foods) than when you consume it without sodium [8] but, eventually, you will excrete both excessive sodium and water with the urine.

Proteins. Every gram of protein you consume results in production of about 8 mL of urine, which is required to excrete the waste products of protein metabolism (urea). For, example, consumption of 50 grams of protein results in excretion of about 400 mL of the urine [8,33].

A low carb-diet (fasting (no food) results in increased urination [35,36]. After the onset of fasting or low-carb diet, glycogen in your liver and muscles will start to break down to provide glucose for the body needs. Each gram of glycogen is stored along with about 4 milliliters of water, so during the first day of a low-carb diet, when all glycogen (about 500 grams) is exhausted, about 2,000 mL of water previously bound to glycogen will be released and excreted in the urine if you continue to consume the same amount of water as before [37]. After glycogen exhaustion, your body fat stores will start to break down into ketones, which may be partly excreted with the urine and may drag some water with them, which may result in slightly increased total daily urination volume during the next days of fasting or low-carb diet.

Alcohol appears to stimulate the urine excretion (diuresis) in well hydrated, but not in dehydrated individuals [38]. In one human trial, well hydrated males after drinking one liter of beer with 4 vol % alcohol excreted about 160 milliliters more urine in average (within four hours) than after alcohol-free beer. When the same males were dehydrated, they excreted about the same amount of urine after drinking 1 liter of either alcohol-free or alcohol-containing beer [38]. In conclusion, alcohol in concentrations up to 4 vol% does not seem to cause dehydration [2,30,39].

Caffeine. According to several reviews of studies, individuals who do not regularly consume caffeine can experience transitional increase in urine volume after a single dose of caffeine greater than 250 mg (~20 fl. oz of home-brewed coffee, 60 fl oz of caffeinated cola or various amounts of tea or energy drinks) [41]. Individuals who regularly (every day) consume caffeine often develop tolerance to its effects, so they usually do not have increased urine output after consuming up to 250 mg caffeine per day [8,40,41]. In individuals with overactive bladder, caffeinated beverages can irritate the bladder what may result in increased frequency of urination but not increased volume of the urine [42].

Taurine, an ingredient in energy drinks, has no significant effect on the urine excretion [43].

Diuretics (water pills), such as furosemide, chlorothiazide and spironolactone, are prescription drugs that stimulate water excretion in the urine (diuresis). They are used to remove excessive body water in various heart, kidneys, liver, lung or hormonal disorders and in high blood pressure.

Natural diuretics. There is some evidence that certain herbs, such as birch leaves, celery seed, dandelion leaves, goldenrod, rest-harrow root and stinging nettle leaves, may mildly stimulate the excretion of the urine (diuresis) [44].

Immersion in water stimulates urine excretion; this is called immersion diuresis [45]. Exposure to cold ambient also stimulates urine excretion; this is called cold diuresis. Cold diuresis is self-limited ─ it progresses only up to a certain level of dehydration and can be prevented by a mild exercise [46,47].

Sweating

The loss of water through sweating depends on the activity level, ambient temperature, clothing and personal sweat rate.

Chart 3. Sweat Rates

ACTIVITY LEVEL, TEMPERATURE AVERAGE SWEAT RATES
Sedentary, 41° F (5° C) 2 liters/day
Sedentary, temperate climate 3 liters/day
Sedentary, hot climate 4 liters/day
Active, 41° F (5° C) 3 liters/day
Active, temperate climate 5 liters/day
Physical work, hot climate 2-10 liters/8 hour shift
Light work in protective clothes, hot climate 1-2 liters/hour
Runners, temperate climate 0.7-1 liters/hour
Runners, hot climate 1-3+ liters/hour

 Chart 3 source: [48]

  1. Dietary Reference Intakes for Water, Potassium, Sodium, Chloride, and Sulfate ( 2005 )/4 Water /Total Body Water  The National Academic Press
  2. Nutrients in Water  World Health Organization
  3. Fluid and Electrolyte Balance  University of California, Berkeley
  4. Popkin BM et al, 2011, Water, Hydration and Health  PubMed Central
  5. Neufer PD et al, 1989, Gastric emptying during walking and running: effects of varied exercise intensity  Springer Link
  6. Mitchell JB et al, 1991, The influence of volume on gastric emptying and fluid balance during prolonged exercise  PubMed
  7. Thirst ─ absent  MedlinePlus
  8. 2007, Exercise and Fluid Replacement  Medicine & Science in Sports & Medicine
  9. Jeukendrup AE et al, 2009, Effect of beverage glucose and sodium content on fluid delivery  Nutrition & Metabolism
  10. Murray R et al, 1999, A comparison of the gastric emptying characteristics of selected sports drinks  PubMed
  11. Sadiya A, 2012, Nutritional therapy for the management of diabetic gastroparesis: clinical review  PubMed Central
  12. Franke A et al, 2005, THE EFFECT OF ETHANOL AND ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES ON GASTRIC EMPTYING OF SOLID MEALS IN HUMANS  Alcohol and Alcoholism
  13. Maughan RJ et al, 2004, Gastric emptying and fluid availability after ingestion of glucose and soy protein hydrolysate solutions in man  Experimental Physiology
  14. Gisolfi CV, 2000, Is the GI System Built For Exercise?  Physiology
  15. Fluid Replacement and Heat Stress ( 1994 )/6 Gastric Emptying During Exercise: Influence of Carbohydrate Concentration, Carbohydrate Source…  The National Academic Press
  16. Ryan AJ et al, 1989, Gastric emptying during prolonged cycling exercise in the heat  PubMed
  17. Mitchell JB et al, 1989, Gastric emptying: influence of prolonged exercise and carbohydrate concentration  PubMed
  18. Peritonitis  John Hopkins Medicine
  19. Campbell CA et al, 2008, The Agony of Ecstasy: MDMA (3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine) and the Kidney  Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology
  20. Bode C et al, 2003, Effect of alcohol consumption on the gut  PubMed
  21. Pouderoux P et al, 1997, Effect of carbonated water on gastric emptying and intragastric meal distribution  PubMed
  22. Zachwieja JJ et al, 1991, Effects of drink carbonation on the gastric emptying characteristics of water and flavored water  PubMed
  23. Ryan AJ et al, 1991, Consumption of carbonated and noncarbonated sports drinks during prolonged treadmill exercise in the heat  PubMed
  24. Gisolfi CV et al, 1998, Effect of beverage osmolality on intestinal fluid absorption during exercise  Applied Phisiology
  25. Gisolfi CV et al, 1995, Effect of sodium concentration in a carbohydrate-electrolyte solution on intestinal absorption  PubMed
  26. Dietary Reference Intakes for Water, Potassium, Sodium, Chloride, and Sulfate ( 2005 )/4 Water  The National Academic Press
  27. Dietary Reference Intakes for Water, Potassium, Sodium, Chloride, and Sulfate ( 2005 )/4 Water  The National Academic Press
  28. Rosner MH, 2007, Exercise-Associated Hyponatremia  Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology
  29. Dietary Reference Intakes for Water, Potassium, Sodium, Chloride, and Sulfate ( 2005 )/4 Water  The National Academic Press
  30. Grandjean AC, WATER REQUIREMENTS, IMPINGING FACTORS, AND RECOMMENDED INTAKES   World Health Organization
  31. Dietary Reference Intakes for Water, Potassium, Sodium, Chloride, and Sulfate ( 2005 )/4 Water  The National Academic Press
  32. Dietary Reference Intakes for Water, Potassium, Sodium, Chloride, and Sulfate ( 2005 )/4 Water  The National Academic Press
  33. Dietary Reference Intakes for Water, Potassium, Sodium, Chloride, and Sulfate ( 2005 )/4 Water  The National Academic Press
  34. Urine 24-hour volume  MedlinePlus
  35. Denke MA, 2001, Metabolic Effects of High-Protein, Low-Carbohydrate Diets   The University of Texas of the Permian Basin
  36. Gozansky DM et al, 1971, Water and sodium retention in the fasted and refed human  The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition
  37. Ollson KE et al, 2008, Variation in Total Body Water with Muscle Glycogen Changes in Man  Wiley Online Library
  38. Hobson RM et al, 2010, Hydration Status and the Diuretic Action of a Small Dose of Alcohol  Alcohol and Alcoholism
  39. Dietary Reference Intakes for Water, Potassium, Sodium, Chloride, and Sulfate ( 2005 )/4 Water  The National Academic Press
  40. Armstrong LE et al, 2007, Caffeine, Fluid-Electrolyte Balance, Temperature Regulation, and Exercise-Heat Tolerance  Medscape
  41. Maughan RJ et al, 2003, Caffeine ingestion and fluid balance: a review  PubMed
  42. Lohsiriwat S et al, 2011, Effect of caffeine on bladder function in patients with overactive bladder symptoms  PubMed Central
  43. Riesenhuber A et al, 2006, Diuretic potential of energy drinks  PubMed
  44. Yarnell E, 2002, Botanical medicines for the urinary tract  Springer Link
  45. Srámek P et al, 2000, Human physiological responses to immersion into water of different temperatures  PubMed
  46. Knight DR et al, 1985, Urinary responses to cold temperature during water immersion  Regulatory, Integrative and Comparative Physiology
  47. Castellani JW et al, 2010, Prevention of Cold Injuries during Exercise  Medscape
  48. Dietary Reference Intakes for Water, Potassium, Sodium, Chloride, and Sulfate ( 2005 )/4 Water  The National Academic Press
  49. Dietary Reference Intakes for Water, Potassium, Sodium, Chloride, and Sulfate ( 2005 )/4 Water  The National Academic Press
  50. De Olivera DP et al, 2011, Food-dependent, exercise-induced gastrointestinal distress  Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition
  51. Maughan RJ et al, 2004, Gastric emptying and fluid availability after ingestion of glucose and soy protein hydrolysate solutions in man  Experimental physiology
  52. Leiper JB et al, 2005, The effect of intermittent high-intensity running on gastric emptying of fluids in man  PubMed
  53. Shi X et al, 1995, Effects of carbohydrate type and concentration and solution osmolality on water absorption  PubMed
  54. Gunn E et al, 1995, The effect of osmolality and carbohydrate content on the rate of gastric emptying of liquids in man  Journal of Physiology
  55. Mineralocorticoids  Colorado State University

One Response to "Water Functions, Absorption and Excretion"

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

SUGARS

POLYOLS

OLIGOSACCHARIDES

POLYSACCHARIDES

DIETARY FIBER

ALCOHOL PROPERTIES

ALCOHOL EFFECTS

EXCESSIVE DRINKING

ALCOHOL TESTS