Hydration in relation to water insecurity, heat index, and lactation status in two small-scale populations in hot-humid and hot-arid environments
Bethancourt HJ, Swanson ZS, Nzunza R, Huanca T, Conde E, Kenney WL, Young SL, Ndiema E, Braun D, Pontzer H, Rosinger AY
American journal of human biology : the official journal of the Human Biology Council · 39 citations
How it was studied
- Design
- Cross-sectional study (classified by our AI screen)
- Studied in
- People
- Main outcome
- Health markers and function
Who paid for it
- Funding
- Independent funding
- Government
- National Science Foundation
- Government
- National Institute on Aging
- Government
- NIA NIH HHS
- Grants
- National Science Foundation (1924322); National Science Foundation (NSF REU #1930719); National Science Foundation (1624398); National Institute on Aging (R01‐AG067471)
Based on 3 listed funder(s).
Publication
- Published
- 2020-06-24 · Am J Hum Biol · vol. 33 · issue 1 · p. e23447
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Cited
- 53 citations · more than 90% of similar papers · 2.5× the field average
- References
- 80 works
- Access
- Open access (repository copy)
- Research areas
- Child Nutrition and Water Access · Thermoregulation and physiological responses · Climate Change and Health Impacts
- Keywords
- Arid, Scale (ratio), Lactation, Index (typography), Environmental science, Geography, Biology, Ecology, Cartography, Pregnancy
- MeSH
- urine, humans, dehydration, urinalysis, prevalence, lactation, adolescent, adult, aged, aged, 80 and over, middle aged, child, kenya, bolivia, female, male, hot temperature, young adult, water insecurity
11 authors
From US, KE, BO, DE
- Hilary J. Bethancourt · correspondingPennsylvania State University
- Zane S. SwansonDuke University
- Rosemary NzunzaKenya Medical Research Institute
- Tomás HuancaCentro de Información y Desarrollo de la Mujer
- Esther CondeCentro de Información y Desarrollo de la Mujer
- W. Larry KenneyPennsylvania State University
Abstract
Objectives
This study compared the prevalence of concentrated urine (urine specific gravity ≥1.021), an indicator of hypohydration, across Tsimane' hunter-forager-horticulturalists living in hot-humid lowland Bolivia and Daasanach agropastoralists living in hot-arid Northern Kenya. It tested the hypotheses that household water and food insecurity would be associated with higher odds of hypohydration.
Methods
This study collected spot urine samples and corresponding weather data along with data on household water and food insecurity, demographics, and health characteristics among 266 Tsimane' households (N = 224 men, 235 women, 219 children) and 136 Daasanach households (N = 107 men, 120 women, 102 children).
Results
The prevalence of hypohydration among Tsimane' men (50.0%) and women (54.0%) was substantially higher (P < .001) than for Daasanach men (15.9%) and women (17.5%); the prevalence of hypohydration among Tsimane' (37.0%) and Daasanach (31.4%) children was not significantly different (P = .33). Multiple logistic regression models suggested positive but not statistically significant trends between household water insecurity and odds of hypohydration within populations, yet some significant joint effects of water and food insecurity were observed. Heat index (2°C) was associated with a 23% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.09-1.40, P = .001), 34% (95% CI: 1.18-1.53, P < .0005), and 23% (95% CI: 1.04-1.44, P = .01) higher odds of hypohydration among Tsimane' men, women, and children, respectively, and a 48% (95% CI: 1.02-2.15, P = .04) increase in the odds among Daasanach women. Lactation status was also associated with hypohydration among Tsimane' women (odds ratio = 3.35, 95% CI: 1.62-6.95, P = .001).
Conclusion
These results suggest that heat stress and reproductive status may have a greater impact on hydration status than water insecurity across diverse ecological contexts.
Abstract via Europe PMC. Copyright remains with the authors or publisher.
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