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Comparison between digital and paper urine color to assess hydration status

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Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to investigate associations between digital urine color and paper urine color with other urine indices to assess hydration status.

Methods

Twelve male subjects (mean ± standard deviation; age, 26 ± 8 years; body mass, 57.8 ± 5.3 kg; height, 177.5 ± 8.9 cm; VO2max, 57.8 ± 5.8 ml·kg−1·min−1) performed four exercise trials in the heat. Before and following exercise trials, subjects provide urine samples. Urine samples were measured using a digital urine color chart on a portable device screen. Urine samples were also assessed with urine specific gravity (USG), urine osmolality (UOsmo), and a validated paper urine color chart.

Results

There were extremely large associations found between digital urine color and paper urine color (r = 0.926, p < 0.001). Correlation coefficients showing associations with USG and UOsmo were similar between digital urine color (USG, r = 0.695, p < 0.001; UOsmo, r = 0.555, p < 0.001) and paper urine color (USG, r = 0.713, p < 0.001; UOsmo, r = 0.570, p < 0.001). Bland–Altman analysis indicated that no proportional bias was observed between digital and paper urine colors (bias, − 0.148; SD of bias, 0.492; 95% LOA, − 1.11, 0.817; p = 0.094).

Conclusions

Strong associations were found between digital and paper urine colors with no proportional bias. Furthermore, the degree of associations with USG and UOsmo was similar between digital and paper urine color. These results indicate that digital urine color is a useful tool to assess hydration status and this method could be used as an alternative method to using paper urine color.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank undergraduate students for their help during data collection and data cleaning. Furthermore, the authors greatly appreciate the subjects in this study for their time and willingness to participate. This study was funded by CamelBak. The authors have no conflicts of interest to disclose for the submitted work.

Funding

This study was founded by CamelBak.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Kinesiology, Korey Stringer Institute, University of Connecticut, 2095 Hillside Road U-1110, Storrs, CT, 06269, USA

    Yasuki Sekiguchi, David G. Martin, Ayami Yoshihara & Douglas J. Casa

  2. Sports Performance Laboratory, Department of Kinesiology and Sport Management, Texas Tech University, 3204 Main Street, Lubbock, TX, 79409, USA

    Yasuki Sekiguchi

Authors
  1. Yasuki Sekiguchi
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  2. David G. Martin
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  3. Ayami Yoshihara
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  4. Douglas J. Casa
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Correspondence to Yasuki Sekiguchi.

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Sekiguchi, Y., Martin, D.G., Yoshihara, A. et al. Comparison between digital and paper urine color to assess hydration status. Eur J Nutr 62, 1915–1919 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00394-022-03037-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00394-022-03037-0

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