Hydration

Hydration is more than just water - it’s science.

Hydration as a Tool for Resilience and Recovery

At the Unilever Wellbeing Collective, we believe that hydration is essential for every system in the body. While hydration science has been well-studied for decades, we continue to advance research that is rapidly revolutionizing the field.

Unilever Wellbeing Collective is exploring lower-sugar, amino-acid–based formulas, quantifying absorption and real-world rehydration after exercise, and evaluating daily-use safety and tolerability of sugar-free oral rehydration solutions (ORS). These efforts are designed to measure clinically meaningful outcomes while keeping formulations practical for daily use. Insights from this work inform the efficacy and safety of the products to provide hydration for everyday wellness, physical endurance, heat and sun, and travel.

Liquid I.V. offers science-backed solutions that are clinically tested for efficacy, informed by real-world behaviors, and designed to meet life’s demands - from school and work to exercise and travel - making effective hydration more accessible and aligned with daily living.

To learn more about the science behind our hydration portfolio, visit the Science & Research section. Highlights include:

Science & Research

Evidence in Action

Hydration
Oral Rehydration Solutions Improve Measures of Hydration...

The aim of this study was to determine the efficacy of three different Liquid I.V. formulations on hydration status in healthy euhydrated subjects.

31/05/2025

Discover more about Oral Rehydration Solutions Improve Measures of Hydration... Read More
Beauty from Within
Caffeinated Energy Drink Formulations Differentially Impact Hydration Versus Water: Does Habitual Caffeine Intake or Biological Sex Matter?

The aim of this study was to determine the effects of commercially available caffeinated beverages (a known diuretic) on hydration measures, and to understand whether either biological sex or habitual intake of caffeine habitual are influencing factors on these measures.

09/09/2025

Discover more about Caffeinated Energy Drink Formulations Differentially Impact Hydration Versus Water: Does Habitual Caffeine Intake or Biological Sex Matter? Read More
Hydration
Enhanced Absorption of Functional Ingredients in a Carbohydrate-Electrolyte Solution...

The aim of this study was to determine whether Liquid I.V. alters the pharmacokinetic parameters of functional ingredients in healthy euhydrated subjects.

29/06/2024

Discover more about Enhanced Absorption of Functional Ingredients in a Carbohydrate-Electrolyte Solution... Read More

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Proper hydration is essential for nearly all bodily processes. Being adequately hydrated improves oxygen flow, helps digestion run efficiently, supports waste excretion (through the kidneys filtering the blood, urination and perspiration), and aids blood volume and pressure regulation, as well as heat transfer.

Carbohydrates such as sugar and dextrose are key components in the science behind enhanced hydration. Liquid I.V. Hydration Multiplier contains a specific amount of carbohydrates that, combined with electrolytes (such as sodium and potassium), help your body stay hydrated. Liquid I.V. Hydration Multiplier uses both cane sugar and dextrose as sources of carbohydrates. Dextrose is a form of glucose, which is a sugar found in the body and an important component of this hydrating formula. Carbohydrates combined with electrolytes enhance hydration. Carbohydrate-electrolyte solutions enhance the absorption of water during physical exercise.

In addition, Liquid I.V. offers a sugar-free hydration solution. Clinical trials using Liquid I.V. Sugar Free showed that sugar-free formulas enhanced fluid absorption and improved net fluid balance compared to water, performing equivalently to sugar-containing comparators. These results confirm that sugar-free formulations with amino acids and allulose can be just as effective in promoting hydration.

Yes. Clinical studies have shown that Liquid IV Sugar Free, which contains allulose and amino acids, provides similar hydration benefits as traditional sugar-containing solutions. In an exercise-induced dehydration trial, an allulose-based sugar-free ORS achieved faster fluid absorption and improved net fluid balance compared to water. A four-week safety study also confirmed that daily intake of 1–3 servings/day of Liquid I.V. Sugar Free was well tolerated, with no clinically meaningful changes in blood chemistry, thyroid function, urinalysis, or vital signs.

Liquid I.V. uses allulose as a low-calorie carbohydrate source because it can support electrolyte transport and fluid absorption without the higher sugar load of glucose. This makes Liquid I.V. Sugar Free a strong option for those looking to reduce sugar intake while maintaining hydration efficacy. Our original Hydration Multiplier is best suited for faster rehydration as an Oral Rehydration Solution (ORS). We recommend choosing the Hydration Multiplier that best suits your lifestyle and dietary preferences.

Liquid I.V. Hydration Multiplier is classified as a conventional food and not a dietary supplement. It is regulated under FDA food safety standards, including compliance with the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FD&C Act), labeling requirements, and cGMP for food manufacturing.

Not necessarily. Research shows that caffeine alone or with limited electrolytes can increase urine output. However, when caffeine is combined with carbohydrates and electrolytes, our research found that hydration is maintained at levels comparable to water. This demonstrates that formulation -not caffeine alone - determines whether a beverage supports or impairs hydration.

A four-week clinical study with daily intake of one to three servings of Liquid I.V. Sugar Free found no clinically meaningful adverse changes across blood panels, thyroid function, urinalysis, or vital signs. Mild gastrointestinal effects were reported occasionally but were temporary and not clinically significant.

THESE STATEMENTS HAVE NOT BEEN EVALUATED BY THE FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION. THIS PRODUCT IS NOT INTENDED TO DIAGNOSE, TREAT, CURE OR PREVENT ANY DISEASE.

This information is provided as a medical and scientific educational resource for the use of dieticians and other licensed healthcare professionals. This information is intended for Practitioners to use as the basis for determining whether to recommend these products to their clients. All recommendations regarding protocols, dosing, prescribing and/or use instructions should be tailored to the individual needs of the client considering their medical history and concomitant therapies. This Information is not intended for use by consumers.