WATER AND ELECTROLYTE

BALANCE
 Next to oxygen, water is absolutely essential to stay alive
 Is the most needed by the body: it is the number one nutrient
 It is a combination of 2 atoms of hydrogen and one oxygen (H-O-H) or H2O
 Water accounts for about 60-70% of body weight for a normal adult (deprivation of water by as
much as 10% will already result in illness and a 20% loss of body water may cause death)
 Water is next to oxygen in importance for the maintenance of life
 In terms of liters, a typical normal adult has about 45 liters of water, of which , 2/3 is found inside
cells called intracellular fluids (ICF) and 1;3 is found outside of the cells called extracellular fluids
(ECF) – composed of the blood or intravascular fluid (about 3 liters) and the interstitial fluids
(about 12 liters)
 THE FUNCTIONS OF WATER

1. Water is the universal solvent

2. Many chemical reactions require water (it serves as catalyst in many biological reactions
especially those that involve digestion, absorption, and circulation)
3. It is a vital component of tissues, muscles, glycogen, and other and is essential for growth and
acts as solvent
4. Water acts as lubricants of the joints and the viscera in the abdominal cavity, linings of the
eyes, mouth and nose
5. It is also a regulator of body temperature through its ability to conduct heat
6. Hydrates the skin
7. Serves as shock absorber inside spinal cord and amniotic sac to protect the fetus
8. Ensures adequate blood volume
 WATER BALANCE

 The amount of water taken in must be equal to the amount of water output, for a person to be in
metabolic equilibrium
 Fluid intake is controlled by thirst, appetite and output by the endocrine glands, as well as the
temperature of the environment
 The body uses more water, in the blood, saliva, intestinal, gastric, bile and pancreatic juices than
the daily intake
 It will be noted that the fluid in take is approximately equal to the urine output
 WATER INTAKE
 The amount of water needed by the body may be met by a direct intake of water coming from
water ingested as such and from water bound with foods
 The third source of water is produced inside the body called metabolic water, which is a result of
the oxidation of food in the body
 ABNORMALITIES OF WATER BALANCE
OVERHYDRATION OR WATER INTOXICATION
• When large amounts of water are lost in the body usually caused by high environmental
temperature, sodium is also lost
• This phenomenon causes the brain to signal a need for increased water. If the water intake is
increased without the corresponding increases in the intake of sodium, water intoxication results.
Workers exposed to high environmental temperatures and travelers to tropical countries not
accustomed to heat m s of this condition and experience muscle cramps, weakness or drop in
blood pressure. This is relieved by providing sodium in very small amounts with the intake of solids
• This may also arise if too much fluid is given intravenously. If the intake of water exceeds the
maximum rate of urine flow, the cells and tissues become water-logged and diluted. This may cause
anorexia and vomiting and if it occurs in the brain, it may result in convulsion, coma and even death

DEHYDRATION
 This condition becomes serious if the loss is about 10% of the total body water and fatal if the loss
is from 20% to 22%. It is especially critical in babies. Electrolytes are also lost with the water in this
condition, and the skin becomes loose and inelastic
 ELECTROLYTE BALANCE
 When chemical compounds dissociate in solution, these break up into separate particles called
ions
 They are also known as electrolytes because these charged particles can conduct electric current
(e.g., salts, acids, bases)
 Non-electrolytes are molecules that do not ionize (glucose, alcohol, urea, protein and other
substances involved in metabolism)
 ELECTROLYTE COMPOSITION OF THE BODY FLUIDS
 There are definite concentration of electrolytes in the body water compartments
 This distribution is responsible for maintaining stable electro chemical neutrality in body fluids
 Sodium and chloride – are the major electrolytes found in the plasma and interstitial fluids
 Potassium and phosphate - the major electrolytes found in the intracellular fluid; it can control
the amount of water that can be retained in any given compartment
 ACID-BASE REGULATION
 Electrolytes play an important role in regulating fluid and pH balance
 pH 7.3 to 7.4
 The principal buffers of the blood are the
1. bicarbonate – carbonic acid system
2. phosphate system
3. protein system
 The kidneys excrete either acidic urine or alkaline (this is dependent upon the nature of food
eaten)
 Urine will be alkaline in reaction – if there is an excess intake of cations (found mostly in
vegetables and fruits)
 Urine will be acidic in reaction – if there an excess intake of anions (found in meat, fish, poultry,
cereals and eggs)
 The potential acidity or alkalinity of foods is not determined by taste but by the reaction that food
ultimately yields after being oxidized in the body
 A disturbance in the acid-base balance in the body may result in either acidosis or alkalosis
 These disturbances are basically metabolic or respiratory in origin
 Acidosis – state where you have excessive accumulation of hydrogen ions (e.g., in cases where
you have uncontrolled diabetes and starvation)
 Alkalosis – occurs when there is a great loss of hydrochloric acid (e.g., vomiting over a period of
time, gastric suction or excessive use of diuretics, leading to potassium loss hyperventilation)
 WATER SUPPLY
 Soft water – sodium
 Hard water – calcium and magnesium – comes from shallow ground

1. Mercury – when absorbed in the gastro intestinal tract accumulates in the red blood cells, the brain and
nerve cells
- excessive amounts of mercury during pregnancy can cause mental and physical defects in newborn
2. Cadmium – has been linked with heart and kidney diseases, emphysema and bone disorders which could
lead to osteoporosis
3. Lead – can cause lowering of hemoglobin level, intestinal cramps, fatigue and kidney abnormalities
- excessive lead can cause nerve damage, paralysis, mental retardation in children and even abortions
 Chlorination removes most of the pathogenic bacteria in the water
 It is common knowledge that drinking water can serve as medium for spreading infectious diseases which
could reach epidemic proportions