Sudden cardiac death . . . and other stories

The UK government’s Eatwell Guide advises that people drink six to eight glasses of water or sugar free liquids per day (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-eatwell-guide). Given the wide individual variation in size, weight, activity, and health—not to mention the numerous physiological mechanisms that regulate fluid balance—a single recommendation on the optimal amount of water to be consumed seems a doubtful idea. A systematic review, which identified 18 randomised trials of increased water intake, finds that the supporting evidence is generally weak. Some trials suggested that a high water intake was beneficial for …