Importance of hydration in maintaining an correct body water balance during the exercise as prescription program

Aim: Epidemiological studies provided many evidences on the relevance of a correct hydration during a regular Physical Exercise (PE). An incorrect body composition and hydration can also enhance cardiovascular risks. At present few data are available about the hydration and body composition after a short period of PE prescribed as therapy. This study is aimed to investigate this concern in a small group of hypertensive patients following an Exercise as Prescription Program based on the ACSM guidelines. Methods: Thirteen (8 male and 5 female, aged 58 years), were submitted to an individual exercise training at moderate effort (3-4 METS). The Bioimpedance analysis, as non-invasive method for the body composition and body water analysis, was carried out at the beginning (T0) and after 5 months (T5) of physical exercise. In the same session and following the AHA guidelines an Echocardiographyc exam was performed for each subject in order to evaluate the morphological and functional myocardial parameters. Results: all data are expressed as mean and standard deviation. After 5 months of PE the bioelectrical data (Rz, Xc, PA) have shown an evident increase of Intra Cellular Water (T0: 21,79±5,29 L, T5: 22,70±5,28 L) values with a parallel decrease of the Extra Cellular Water (T0: 18,44±3,60 L, T5: 17,67±3,33 L) resulting both in none substantial change of the Total Body Water. Similarly there was an evident reduction of body weight (T0: 77,25±14,80 kg, T5: 75,31±14,97 kg) due to the Fat Mass values (T0: 23,99±9,89 kg, T5: 21,86±8,34 kg). The Echocardiographyc systo-diastolic parameter didn’t show any statistical differences after 5 months of PE. Conclusion: the results are suggestive for an early physiological improvement of the water distribution after a short period of regular exercise as prescription therapy inducing an enhancement of water into the active (Intra cellular) compartment. The BIA exam can timely identify this behaviour not evaluable by the anthropometrics parameters.