Insensible water loss in resting adults in Kandy, Sri Lanka
Ratnatunga, P.C.; Thevaranjan, A.G.
Ceylon Medical Journal 36(4): 151-154
1991
ISSN/ISBN: 0009-0875 PMID: 1807842 Document Number: 378305
Sixty three adults (44 men) were observed over a 4 hour period in Kandy to measure insensible water loss. Six adult men were similarly studied over 24 hours. The average loss per day, computed from the 4 hour studies was 1 333 ml for men and 1 230 ml for women. The 24 hour study showed an average loss of 1 423 ml. A reasonable working estimate for insensible water loss for resting adults in Kandy would be about 1 000 to 1 200 ml per day. However, when renal excretion of water is impaired, it is safer to err on the side of mild dehydration than to attempt complete hydration.