Hydratation de l’enfant et comportement dipsique

Prevalence of voluntary dehydration according to urine osmolarity in elementary school students in the metropolitan region of São Paulo, Brazil

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate the prevalence of voluntary dehydration based on urine osmolarity in elementary school students from two public educational institutions in the metropolitan region of São Paulo and evaluate whether there is a relationship between voluntary dehydration and nutritional status or socioeconomic status.

METHODS

Analytical cross-sectional study with students from two public schools in the city of Osasco. The determination of urine osmolarity was performed using the freezing method of the Advanced® Osmometer Model 3W2. Urine osmolarity greater than 800 mOsm/kg H2O was considered voluntary dehydration. During data collection, the weights and heights of the students, environmental temperatures and air humidity levels were obtained.

RESULTS

A total of 475 students aged six to 12 years were evaluated, of whom 188 were male. Voluntary dehydration occurred in 63.2% of the students and was more frequent in males than in females. The prevalence of voluntary dehydration was more frequent in males aged six to nine years than in females. However, no statistically significant difference was observed between males and females aged 10 to 12 years. No association was found between voluntary dehydration and nutritional status or socioeconomic status.

CONCLUSION

The prevalence of voluntary dehydration was high in elementary school students and was more frequent in males. No association was found between voluntary dehydration and nutritional or socioeconomic status.

School Policy on Drinking and Toilets: Weaknesses and Relation With Children's Hydration Status

OBJECTIVE

To investigate school policies and practices related to drinking fluids and toileting and test their association with children's hydration status and toilet behaviors.

DESIGN

Cross-sectional study in 2014.

SETTING

Seventeen Belgian primary schools.

PARTICIPANTS

A total of 416 children (aged 7-13 years).

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Hydration was measured by urinary osmolality in a pooled school-day sample and by impedance-based body water percentage. Children reported how much they liked school toilets. School policy and practices were reported by schools on 59 items over 10 policy components.

ANALYSIS

Multilevel logistic regression analyses adjusted for age, sex, region and socioeconomic status.

RESULTS

School's weaknesses were the lack of policy participation by parents and children; official agreements (only in 11%); organizing education on drinking and toilet visits; and toilet infrastructure. Children's hydration was higher in schools that (1) made water available, (2) organized toilet and drinking related education, (3) had formal agreements on drinking and toilet visits, and (4) had good toilet maintenance. Children liked school toilets more in schools that (1) organized toilet and drinking related education, (2) had an official policy on drinking, (3) had good toilet infrastructure, and (4) allowed policy participation by parents and children.

CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS

Specific action points for school management and government to improve children's hydration at school were detected by focusing on both drinking and toilet practices/infrastructure.

Belgian primary school children's hydration status at school and its personal determinants

PURPOSE

Dehydration has been related to several health aspects, and children are especially vulnerable. Since children spend a large time at school, we aim to examine children's hydration status at school-start and its change during the school-day by objective measures. To identify subpopulations at risk, determinants of hydration were tested.

METHODS

In 371 Belgian 7-13-year-old children, hydration was measured by (1) urinary osmolality at school-start and by a pooled school-day sample; (2) body water% by impedance; (3) parental reported beverage consumption; (4) urination frequency. Linear regression analyses were used to test putative predictors of hydration status: age, sex, parental education, region (Dutch-speaking versus French-speaking part of Belgium), diet quality and adiposity.

RESULTS

A mean osmolality of 888 mosmol/kg was found in the school-start sample and 767 mosmol/kg in the school-day sample. This resulted in, respectively, 76 and 54 % of the children being dehydrated (>800 mosmol/kg). In 45 % of the children, the hydration level decreased over the school-day. Also the body water% as derived from bio-impedance (57 % ±4), the reported average daily beverage intake (911 ml) and the lower urination frequency during weekdays versus weekend days confirmed the low hydration status in our school population. Boys, Walloon children and those with higher adiposity were at increased risk of low hydration level. Diet quality was not the predictor of hydration status.

CONCLUSIONS

Hydration status at school appeared problematic in this population. This emphasizes the need for more resources and attention by school management and governmental organizations. Herein, especially Walloon schools and boys should be reached.

Fluid intake survey among schoolchildren in Belgium

Background

In childhood, inadequate fluid intakes can lead on the short term, to reduced physical and cognitive performances. However, few data are available on the fluid intake among schoolchildren in Belgium. The main aim of this study is to evaluate total fluid intake provided by different types of beverages in a sample of Belgian schoolchildren, in order to assess the percentage of individuals complying with the European Food Safety Authority recommendations for total fluid intake. A secondary aim was to characterize the study population in terms of determinants of the total fluid intake requirements.

Methods

A child friendly “fluids and liquid food” diary was used to prospectively record the volume and frequency of beverage consumption over 7 days from 1045 schoolchildren. This diary also recorded the practice of physical activity. An adequate fluid intake was defined as an intake ≥ 75% of the age-specific adequate intake recommended by the EFSA.

Results

The median (P25-P75) of habitual daily fluid intake was 864 (608–1104) ml/day, with 355 (194–579) coming from drinking water. This habitual daily fluid intake varied significantly among the three investigated EFSA groups (girls and boys aged from 8 years, girls from 9 to 13 and boys from 9 to 13), except for the drinking water (P = 0.906). The highest medians of fruit juice, sugar-sweetened beverages and milk and derivatives were found among boys of 9–13. Only 9.5% of the children had an adequate fluid intake, with a value of 19.2% among the 8 years old girls and boys, 7.0% among girls of 9–13 and 8.4% among boys of 9–13. In the whole sample, 27.7% of the children declared to drink less than 3-4x/day, 56% drunk water less than 2x/day and 7.7% drunk no water at all. Every day, 27.1% and 34.1% of the children drank respectively one fruit juice and one sugar-sweetened beverage.

Conclusion

Belgian schoolchildren have an inadequate total fluid intake. Given the potential health consequences, interventions involving parents and school environment to promote water consumption seem pertinent.