title: Assessment of water intake from food and beverages by elderly in Poland
abstract: Fluid intake in elderly is more important than in younger individuals, because compromised homeostatic mechanisms such as loss of the thirst sensation can result in dehydration.
  
  
  
  The aim of the present study was the assessment of water intake from food and beverages by free-living elderly in Poland.
  
  
  
  The study was conducted on 138 volunteers (women and men) at the age of 60 to 90, recruited from Warsaw and Płock Universities of the Third Age and different informal groups from the same cities. Food and beverages consumption data were collected using the method of records for 3 days, including two weekdays and one week-end day, in the period April – June 2012.
  
  
  
  Average values of total water intake in the present study indicated that women meets of the European Food Safety Agency recommendations (2000 mL/day), but men did not (less about 200 mL/day than the recommended 2500 mL/day). Taking into account the criterion of water per energy intake (mL/kcal) 51% of women and 75% of men did not meet the recommendation.
  
  
  
  Continuation of the careers and/or participation in Universities of the Third Age contributed to less intake of water from beverages, what in turn affected the total water intake. The elderly leading an active life (working, studying) may be a risk group vulnerable to dehydration, so monitoring is needed.
authors.affiliation: Warsaw University of Life Sciences, Chair of Nutritional Assessment, Department of Human Nutrition, (WULS-SGGW), Warsaw, Poland
authors.forename: Małgorzata E
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Drywień
authors.affiliation: Warsaw University of Life Sciences, Chair of Nutritional Assessment, Department of Human Nutrition, (WULS-SGGW), Warsaw, Poland
authors.forename: Katarzyna
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Galon
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001628:Beverages / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003681:Dehydration / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004326:Drinking; D004435:Eating; D002149:Energy Intake; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009749:Nutrition Surveys; D011044:Poland; D012737:Sex Factors