J Nutr Health.  2022 Aug;55(4):419-429. 10.4163/jnh.2022.55.4.419.

2020 Dietary Reference Intakes of water for Koreans: establishment and future tasks

• Lee JH
• Kim SH

• KMID: 2532903
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4163/jnh.2022.55.4.419

Abstract

Water accounts for the largest proportion of body weight and is an essential element for the physiological functioning of the human body. According to 2013–2017 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) data, the average water intake of Koreans was 2,167.3 mL/day and 62% of them did not meet the Dietary Reference Intakes for Koreans (KDRIs) for water. However, the consumption of beverages is continuously increasing. KDRIs sets the adequate intake (AI) for water, but tolerable upper intake level (UL) and chronic disease risk reduction intake (CDRR) are not provided. Compared to 2015, the AI of total water from both food and fluids in the 2020 KDRIs slightly increased or decreased according to age. The AI for children 1–2 years old, boys 6–8 years and 9–11 years old, and girls 6–8 years old decreased by 100 mL/day, while that of boys 12–14 years old increased by 100 mL/day. The AI of total water was the sum of the water intake from food and fluids reported by the KNHANES, with an extra milk intake of 200 mL/day. Therefore, it is not appropriate to use the AI of total water intakes for the reference of beverage intakes. It is preferable to consume water or milk rather than beverages containing sugar and others including caffeine, sodium, etc. when drinking fluid water. We suggest the following improvements in the future KDRIs for water: improving the adequacy of the water content ratio of Korean conventional foods, supplementing the fluid water intake survey, reflecting the current water intake status by life cycle, setting KDRIs for water for the elderly considering the physiological changes, health status and dietary habits, and promotion of research on the relationship between water intake and health for Koreans.

Keyword

recommended dietary allowances; water; beverages