Acute kidney injury biomarkers and hydration assessments following prolonged mild hypohydration in healthy young adults.

The high prevalence of inadequate hydration (e.g., hypohydration and underhydration) is concerning given that extreme heat increases excess hospitalizations for fluid/electrolyte disorders and acute kidney injury (AKI). Inadequate hydration may also be related to renal and cardiometabolic disease development. This study tested the hypothesis that prolonged mild hypohydration increases the urinary AKI biomarker product of insulin-like growth factor-binding protein 7 and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-2 ([IGFBP7·TIMP-2]) compared with euhydration. In addition, we determined the diagnostic accuracy and optimal cutoffs of hydration assessments for discriminating positive AKI risk ([IGFBP·TIMP-2] >0.3 (ng/mL)²/1,000). In a block-randomized crossover design, 22 healthy young adults (11 females and 11 males) completed 24 h of fluid deprivation (hypohydrated group) or 24 h of normal fluid consumption (euhydrated group) separated by ≥72 h. Urinary [IGFBP7·TIMP-2] and other AKI biomarkers were measured following the 24-h protocols. Diagnostic accuracy was assessed via receiver operating characteristic curve analysis. Urinary [IGFBP7·TIMP-2] [1.9 (95% confidence interval: 1.0-2.8) vs. 0.2 (95% confidence interval: 0.1-0.3) (ng/mL)²/1,000, P = 0.0011] was markedly increased in hypohydrated versus euhydrated groups. Urine osmolality (area under the curve: 0.91, P < 0.0001) and urine specific gravity (area under the curve: 0.89, P < 0.0001) had the highest overall performance for discriminating positive AKI risk. Optimal cutoffs with a positive likelihood ratio of 11.8 for both urine osmolality and specific gravity were 952 mosmol/kgH₂O and 1.025 arbitrary units. In conclusion, prolonged mild hypohydration increased urinary [IGFBP7·TIMP-2] in males and females. Urinary [IGFBP7·TIMP-2] corrected to urine concentration was elevated in males only. Urine osmolality and urine specific gravity may have clinical utility for discriminating positive AKI risk following prolonged mild hypohydration.NEW & NOTEWORTHY This study found that prolonged mild hypohydration in healthy young adults increased the Food and Drug Administration approved acute kidney injury (AKI) biomarker urinary insulin-like growth factor-binding protein 7 and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-2 [IGFBP7·TIMP-2]. Urine osmolality and specific gravity demonstrated an excellent ability to discriminate positive AKI risk. These findings emphasize the importance of hydration in protecting renal health and lend early support for hydration assessment as an accessible tool to assess AKI risk.