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. 2014 Apr 11;9(4):e94754.
doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0094754. eCollection 2014.

Effects of changes in water intake on mood of high and low drinkers

Nathalie Pross  1 , Agnès Demazières  2 , Nicolas Girard  2 , Romain Barnouin  2 , Déborah Metzger  2 , Alexis Klein  3 , Erica Perrier  3 , Isabelle Guelinckx  3
Affiliations

Effects of changes in water intake on mood of high and low drinkers

Nathalie Pross et al. PLoS One. .

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the effects of a change in water intake on mood and sensation in 22 habitual high-volume (HIGH; 2-4 L/d) and 30 low-volume (LOW; <1.2 L/d) drinkers who were asked to respectively decrease and increase their daily water intake.

Method: During baseline HIGH consumed 2.5 L and LOW 1 L of water/day. During 3 controlled intervention days HIGH's water intake was restricted to 1 L/day whereas LOW's was increased to 2.5 L water/day. Several mood scales (Bond & Lader Visual Analog Scale (VAS), Profile of Mood States, Karolinska Sleepiness Scale, Thirst & Emotional VAS) were administered at different time points during the study. ANOVA including intervention, time point and intervention by time point as fixed effects on mean values (i.e.; baseline data vs. mean of 3 intervention days) for each mood scale was performed.

Results: At baseline HIGH and LOW were comparable in mood state, except for thirst scores (estimate = 17.16, p<0.001) and POMS depression-dejection scores (estimate = 0.55, p<0.05) which were both higher in the HIGH vs. LOW. In HIGH the restricted water intake resulted in a significant increase in thirst (p<0.001) and a decrease in contentedness (p<0.05), calmness (p<0.01), positive emotions (p<0.05) and vigor/activity (p<0.001). In LOW, increased water consumption resulted in a significant decrease in fatigue/inertia (p<0.001), confusion/bewilderment (p = 0.05) and thirst (p<0.001) and a trend to lower sleepiness (p = 0.07) compared to baseline.

Conclusion: Increasing water intake has beneficial effects in LOW, especially sleep/wake feelings, whereas decreasing water intake has detrimental effects on HIGH's mood. These deleterious effects in HIGH were observed in some sleep/wake moods as well as calmness, satisfaction and positive emotions.

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Conflict of interest statement

Competing Interests: The authors have the following interests: This study was funded by Danone Research and conducted by Forenap. AD, NG, RB, DM, and NP were employees of Forenap, where the trial was conducted. AK, EP, and IG are employees of Danone Research. NP is an occasional consultant for Danone Research. There are no patents, products in development or marketed products to declare. This does not alter the authors′ adherence to all the PLOS ONE policies on sharing data and materials.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1. Investigational schedule.
Note: X corresponds to the mood and sensations assessments (i.e.; Thirst VAS, KSS, eVAS, POMS, Bond and Lader VAS).
Figure 2
Figure 2. Plots of thirst scores (mean ± SEM) over time according to groups and days.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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