The Study
Intracellular Water Content in Lean Mass is Associated with Muscle Strength, Functional Capacity, and Frailty in Community-Dwelling Elderly Individuals. A Cross-Sectional Study
This study looked at a group of older people and found that those with more water inside their muscles tended to be stronger and less frail. But it didn’t change anything — it just observed what was already true, so we can’t say that more water makes people stronger, only that the two things often go together.
Analysis score
Maximum 44 for a cross-sectional study.
Where the score came from
Older people with more water inside their muscle cells tend to be stronger and less likely to become frail, even if they have the same amount of muscle as others.
Where does this study sit?
Reviews of RCTs (Meta-analyses)
Max 100Randomized Trials
Max 90Reviews of Cohort Studies
Max 85Cohort Studies
Max 72Reviews of Case-Control Studies
Max 63Case-Control Studies
Max 58Cross-Sectional & Case Series
Max 50Expert Opinion
Max 544 / 100
Quality score
Snapshots of a population at a single point in time, or descriptions of small groups. Can identify correlations and prevalence, but cannot determine cause and effect.
Key takeaways
Summary
Based on the study abstract and findings.
- 1Yes — even small changes in muscle hydration can meaningfully affect strength and frailty risk in older adults.
- 2For every 1 mL/kg more water inside muscle cells, frailty risk drops by 2%; men have about 19 mL/kg more water than women; water content drops by 2.07 mL/kg each year with age.
Score breakdown, methodology, conflicts of interest, evidence analysis & raw study data
Publication
Journal
Nutrients
Year
2019
Authors
M. Serra-Prat, I. Lorenzo, E. Palomera, J. C. Yébenes, L. Campins, M. Cabré
Related Content
Claims (6)
In people aged 75 and older, the amount of water inside cells per kilogram of lean body mass decreases by about 2.07 milliliters each year, and this reduction occurs independently of the loss of muscle tissue.
In adults aged 75 and older, higher intracellular water content relative to lean mass is linked to a 2% lower risk of frailty for every 1 mL/kg increase.
In people aged 75 and older, men have about 19 milliliters more intracellular water per kilogram of lean body mass than women.
In adults aged 75 and older, higher numbers of chronic medications and health conditions are linked to lower levels of water inside cells relative to lean body mass.
In adults aged 75 and older who live independently, a higher ratio of intracellular water to lean mass is linked to stronger handgrip, better performance in daily activities, and a reduced likelihood of frailty, after accounting for age, sex, comorbidities, and total lean mass.
People with more muscle mass tend to live longer, resist diseases better, and maintain physical function as they age.
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before making health decisions.