Although common health advice urges people to drink eight glasses of water a day, the actual scientific support behind such recommendations is still surprisingly unclear. Since hydration is often associated with everything from energy levels to clear skin, many people increase their water intake to enhance their health. But how do you say the evidence? This question prompted a group of researchers to conduct a thorough review of clinical research, formal studies with human volunteers, to understand whether drinking more or less water has an impact on health in a measurable way.
A team of scientists led by Professor Benjamin Breyer of the University of California conducted a detailed study of San Francisco and asked participants to change the water they drink every day. The findings are published in the journal JAMA Network Open, a medical publication with peer-reviewed scientific research.
The team looked at studies that examined how drinking water more or less affected people’s health. These studies have been conducted over the past two decades and have lasted for several days to several years. About half of them showed at least one significant healthy intake, while the other half did not have much difference. Still, drinking more water often leads to better results in two areas: helping people lose weight and reducing their chances of kidney stones, a painful condition caused by mineral accumulation in the kidneys.
One of the most encouraging results comes from people with a history of kidney stones. When these people were told to drink more water so that they could produce more urine, they had much fewer kidney stone attacks. Similarly, in studies on weight loss, those who drank water before meals lost more weight than those who did not. Professor Breyer explained: “Increasing water before meals is associated with greater fullness, which means feeling full and having less calorie intake, which can lead to weight loss.”
Some smaller studies point to other possible health benefits. For example, people with type 2 diabetes have too high blood sugar levels and the disease of drinking water before meals will improve. In another case, women who frequently experience urinary tract infections (bacterial infections in the urine system) have fewer episodes after drinking more water. Professor Breyer noted: “Bearing low costs and minimal risks, these findings suggest that increasing water use may be a worthwhile intervention, meaning strategies to improve health and further explore.”
The review by Professor Breyer and colleagues also highlighted how maintaining good moisture may help in less obvious ways. While not every result is statistically strong, this is not always at the level that scientists need to rule out opportunities, the overall trend shows improvements in several areas. Since water is easy to obtain, safe and inexpensive, it can be a simple and useful addition to healthy habits for many. Researchers still suggest that more research is needed to really confirm these effects and understand that individual factors such as age, health status, and usual hydration habits may change the way water is intake.
Overall, the comments from Professor Breyer’s team encouraged a new look on the water, not just what we drink to survive. This suggests that water can also be a practical part of caring for a specific health condition. Although more research is needed, this study sets the stage for scientists to continue exploring how daily water habits can help us stay healthy.
Journal Reference
Hakam N., Guzman Fuentes JL, Nabavizadeh B., Sudhakar A., Li KD, Nicholas C., Lui J., Tahir P., Jones CP, Bent S., Breyer BN, “Phenomenons in randomized clinical trials for testing daily water.” JAMA Network Open, 2024; 7(11):E2447621. doi: https://doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.47621
About the Author
Professor Benjamin Breyer He is a leading expert in urology and epidemiology and serves as a faculty member at the University of California, San Francisco. His work bridges clinical practice and public health research, with a strong emphasis on improving patient outcomes through evidence-based care. Professor Breyer has made a significant contribution to the exploration of research on urinary health, lifestyle factors and prevention strategies, especially in understanding how daily behaviors, such as water use, affect long-term health. He is known for his collaborative and interdisciplinary approach, and he often works with teams of clinicians, researchers and data scientists to address practical health issues with scientific and rigorous rigorousness. His research has been widely published in respected medical journals and has helped shape clinical guidelines and public awareness. In addition to his academic achievements, Professor Breyer is recognized for mentoring the next generation of doctors and researchers and advocates accessible and influential healthcare solutions.
