Abstract
Executive Summary: Water is the largest single constituent in the human body. In healthy adults, it can account for approximately 60% of body mass, playing vital roles in physiological and biochemical functions. Although early hydration research focused on how much is needed to prevent dehydration in times of physical stress, recent studies have started to examine the role of fluids in the prevention of chronic illness. Other areas of water research include clarifying myths and misconceptions about fluid requirements, ways of assessing fluid balance, and how fluid requirements are satisfied under various conditions. To address these issues, the International Life Sciences Institute (ILSI) Southeast Asia Region and ILSI North America organized a concurrent symposium on Hydration and Human Health during the fourth Asian Congress of Dietetics held in Manila, Philippines, on April 24 to 26, 2006. The symposium dealt with the current knowledge on hydration, from the myths and science of hydration, to the assessment of the level of hydration of the individual, and to recommendations for the maintenance of water balance under normal conditions and during physical exercise