Drink more water after a bad night’s sleep, say researchers
PARIS: New US research has found that not getting enough sleep could lead to dehydration the next day, possibly affecting mental and physical performance.
Carried out by researchers at Penn State University, the study looked at more than 20,000 American and Chinese adults over the age of 20 to assess how sleep may affect hydration status and risk of dehydration.
Participants were asked to report on their sleeping habits and provide urine samples, which were analysed for biomarkers of hydration.
The findings, published in the journal Sleep on Monday, showed that adults who sleep just six hours per night had a higher chance of being dehydrated compared to those who slept eight hours.
Participants who reported sleeping six hours had significantly more concentrated urine and a 16% to 59% higher chance of being inadequately hydrated.
The researchers suggested that the body’s hormonal system, which regulates hydration, could be responsible.
A hormone called vasopressin is released throughout the day, as well as during the night, to help regulate the body’s hydration status. Shorter sleep may disrupt the release of the hormone, thus affecting hydration.
“Vasopressin is released more quickly and later in the sleep cycle.
“So, if you’re waking up earlier, you might miss that window in which more of the hormone is released, causing a disruption in the body’s hydration,” said lead author Asher Rosinger.
“If you are only getting six hours of sleep a night, it can affect your hydration status,” Rosinger said.
“This study suggests that if you’re not getting enough sleep and you feel bad or tired the next day, drink extra water.” — AFP