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Effects of Dehydration and Rehydration on Cognitive Performance and Mood among Male College Students in Cangzhou, China: A Self-Controlled Trial

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  • Na Zhang

    (Department of Nutrition and Food Hygiene, School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China
    Laboratory of Toxicological Research and Risk Assessment for Food Safety, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China)

  • Song M. Du

    (Chinese Nutrition Society, Room 1405, Broadcasting Mansion, Beijing 100029, China)

  • Jian F. Zhang

    (Department of Nutrition and Food Hygiene, School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China
    Laboratory of Toxicological Research and Risk Assessment for Food Safety, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China)

  • Guan S. Ma

    (Department of Nutrition and Food Hygiene, School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China
    Laboratory of Toxicological Research and Risk Assessment for Food Safety, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China)

Abstract

Water accounts for 75% of brain mass. Associations may exist between hydration and cognitive performance. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of dehydration and rehydration on cognitive performance and mood. In this self-control trial, 12 men were recruited from a medical college in Cangzhou, China. After 12 h of overnight fasting, the participants took baseline tests at 8:00 AM on day 2. First morning urine and blood osmolality were analyzed to determine hydration state. Height, weight, and blood pressure were measured following standardized procedures. A visual analog scale for the subjective sensation of thirst was applied, and a profile of mood states questionnaire was applied. Tests were conducted for cognitive performance, including a test of digit span forward and backward, digit-symbol substitutions, dose-work, and stroop effects. Participants were required not to drink water for 36 h but were given three meals on day 3. On day 4, the same indexes were tested as a baseline test. At 8:30 AM, participants drank 1500 mL of purified water over 15 min. After a 1 h interval, the same measurements were performed. Compared with baseline test results, during the dehydration test, participants had lower scores of vigor (11.9 vs. 8.8, %, p = 0.007) and esteem-related affect (8.2 vs. 5.7, %, p = 0.006), lower total scores of digit span (14.3 vs. 13.3, %, p = 0.004), and higher error rates for dose-work (0.01 vs. 0.16, %, p = 0.005). Compared with the dehydration test scores, rehydration test scores showed that fatigue (4.3 vs. 2.1, %, p = 0.005) and total mood disturbance (TMD) (99.0 vs. 90.2, %, p = 0.008) improved, and scores of forward, backward, and total digit span increased (7.7 vs. 8.6, p = 0.014; 5.7 vs. 1.2, p = 0.019; 13.3 vs. 15.4, p = 0.001). Increases were also noted in correct number of digit symbol substitutions, reading speed, and mental work ability (70.8 vs. 75.4, p < 0.001; 339.3 vs. 486.4, n/min, p < 0.001; 356.1 vs. 450.2, p < 0.001), and reaction time decreased (30.2 vs. 28.7, s, p = 0.002). As a conclusion, dehydration had negative effects on vigor, esteem-related affect, short-term memory, and attention. Rehydration after water supplementation alleviated fatigue and improved TMD, short-term memory, attention, and reaction.

Suggested Citation

  • Na Zhang & Song M. Du & Jian F. Zhang & Guan S. Ma, 2019. "Effects of Dehydration and Rehydration on Cognitive Performance and Mood among Male College Students in Cangzhou, China: A Self-Controlled Trial," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(11), pages 1-13, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:16:y:2019:i:11:p:1891-:d:235182
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Na Zhang & Songming Du & Zhenchuang Tang & Mengqi Zheng & Guansheng Ma, 2017. "Effect of Water Supplementation on Cognitive Performances and Mood among Male College Students in Cangzhou, China: Study Protocol of a Randomized Controlled Trial," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 14(9), pages 1-13, August.
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    Cited by:

    1. Carsten Müller & Kareem El-Ansari & Walid El Ansari, 2022. "Health-Promoting Behavior and Lifestyle Characteristics of Students as a Function of Sex and Academic Level," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(12), pages 1-18, June.
    2. Hairong He & Jianfen Zhang & Na Zhang & Songming Du & Shufang Liu & Guansheng Ma, 2020. "Effects of the Amount and Frequency of Fluid Intake on Cognitive Performance and Mood among Young Adults in Baoding, Hebei, China: A Randomized Controlled Trial," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(23), pages 1-12, November.
    3. Jianfen Zhang & Na Zhang & Hairong He & Songming Du & Guansheng Ma, 2020. "Different Amounts of Water Supplementation Improved Cognitive Performance and Mood among Young Adults after 12 h Water Restriction in Baoding, China: A Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT)," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(21), pages 1-17, October.
    4. Leonardo Cesanelli & Berta Ylaitė & Giuseppe Messina & Daniele Zangla & Stefania Cataldi & Antonio Palma & Angelo Iovane, 2021. "The Impact of Fluid Loss and Carbohydrate Consumption during Exercise, on Young Cyclists’ Fatigue Perception in Relation to Training Load Level," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(6), pages 1-10, March.

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