Diabetes
Prof. Kuwata Keijiroo, Doctor of Medicine
"When I was serving in the Fire Insurance Association, I used to examine many diabetic patients. Besides treating them with drugs, I provided them with alkaline ionised antioxidant water. After drinking alkaline ionised antioxidant water for one month, 15 diabetic patients were selected and sent to Tokyo University for further test and observations.
Initially, the more serious patients were a bit apprehensive about the treatment.
When the antioxidant water was consumed for some time, the sugar in the blood and urine ranged from a ratio of 300 mg/l to 2 mg / dc. There was a time where the patient had undergone 5 to 6 blood tests a day and detected to be within normal range. Results also showed that even 1 ½ hour after meals, the blood sugar and urine ratio was 100 mg/dc: 0 mg/dc. The sugar in the urine has completely disappeared."
NOTE: More Americans than ever before are suffering from diabetes, with the number of new cases averaging almost 800,000 each year.
The disease has steadily increased in the United States since 1980, and in 1998, 16 million Americans were diagnosed with diabetes (10.3 million diagnosed; 5.4 million undiagnosed). Diabetes is the seventh leading cause of death in the United States, and more than 193,000 died from the disease and its related complication in 1996...
The greatest increase - 76 percent - occurred in people age 30 to 40.
From: US Department of Health and Human Services, October 13, 2000 Fact Sheet.
Anti-diabetic effects of electrolyzed reduced water in streptozotocin-induced and genetic diabetic mice.
Kim MJ, Kim HK.Department of Obesity management, Graduate School of Obesity Science, Dongduk Women's University, 23-1 Wolkgukdong, Seoul, 136-714, South Korea. mijakim@dongduk.ac.kr
Oxidative stress is produced under diabetic conditions and is likely involved in progression of pancreatic beta-cell dysfunction found in diabetes. Both an increase in reactive oxygen free radical species (ROS) and a decrease in the antioxidant defense mechanism lead to the increase in oxidative stress in diabetes. Electrolyzed reduced water (ERW) with ROS scavenging ability may have a potential effect on diabetic animals, a model for high oxidative stress. Therefore, the present study examined the possible anti-diabetic effect of ERW in two different diabetic animal models. The genetically diabetic mouse strain C57BL/6J-db/db (db/db) and streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic mouse were used as insulin deficient type 1 and insulin resistant type 2 animal model, respectively. ERW, provided as a drinking water, significantly reduced the blood glucose concentration and improved glucose tolerance in both animal models. However, ERW fail to affect blood insulin levels in STZ-diabetic mice whereas blood insulin level was markedly increased in genetically diabetic db/db mice. This improved blood glucose control could result from enhanced insulin sensitivity, as well as increased insulin release. The present data suggest that ERW may function as an orally effective anti-diabetic agent and merit further studies on its precise mechanism.
PMID: 16945392 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]Life Sci. 2006 Nov 10;79(24):2288-92. Epub 2006 Aug 2
Preservative effect of electrolyzed reduced water on pancreatic beta-cell mass in diabetic db/db mice.
Kim MJ, Jung KH, Uhm YK, Leem KH, Kim HK.
Department of Obesity Management, Graduate School of Obesity Science, Dongduk Women's University, Seoul, South Korea. mijakim@dongduck.ac.jp
Oxidative stress is produced under diabetic conditions and involved in progression of pancreatic beta-cell dysfunction. Both an increase in reactive oxygen free radical species (ROS) and a decrease in the antioxidant defense mechanism lead to the increase in oxidative stress in diabetes. Electrolyzed reduced water (ERW) with ROS scavenging ability may have a potential effect on diabetic animals, a model for high oxidative stress. Therefore, the present study examined the possible anti-diabetic effect of ERW in genetically diabetic mouse strain C57BL/6J-db/db (db/db). ERW with ROS scavenging ability reduced the blood glucose concentration, increased blood insulin level, improved glucose tolerance and preserved beta-cell mass in db/db mice. The present data suggest that ERW may protects beta-cell damage and would be useful for antidiabetic agent.
PMID: 17268057 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] Biol Pharm Bull. 2007 Feb;30(2):234-6
Electrolyzed-reduced water reduced hemodialysis-induced erythrocyte impairment in end-stage renal disease patients.
Huang KC, Yang CC, Hsu SP, Lee KT, Liu HW, Morisawa S, Otsubo K, Chien CT.Department of Family Medicine, National Taiwan University College of Medicine and National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
Chronic hemodialysis (HD) patients increase erythrocyte susceptibility to hemolysis and impair cell survival. We explored whether electrolyte-reduced water (ERW) could palliate HD-evoked erythrocyte impairment and anemia. Forty-three patients undergoing chronic HD were enrolled and received ERW administration for 6 month. We evaluated oxidative stress in blood and plasma, erythrocyte methemoglobin (metHb)/ferricyanide reductase activity, plasma metHb, and proinflammatory cytokines in the chronic HD patients without treatment (n=15) or with vitamin C (VC)- (n=15), vitamin E (VE)-coated dialyzer (n=15), or ERW treatment (n=15) during an HD course. The patients showed marked increases (15-fold) in blood reactive oxygen species, mostly H(2)O(2), after HD without any treatment. HD resulted in decreased plasma VC, total antioxidant status, and erythrocyte metHb/ferricyanide reductase activity and increased erythrocyte levels of phosphatidylcholine hydroperoxide (PCOOH) and plasma metHb. Antioxidants treatment significantly palliated single HD course-induced oxidative stress, plasma and RBC PCOOH, and plasma metHb levels, and preserved erythrocyte metHb /ferricyanide reductase activity in an order VC>ERW>VE-coated dialyzer. However, ERW had no side effects of oxalate accumulation easily induced by VC. Six-month ERW treatment increased hematocrit and attenuated proinflammatory cytokines profile in the HD patients. In conclusion, ERW treatment administration is effective in palliating HD-evoked oxidative stress, as indicated by lipid peroxidation, hemolysis, and overexpression of proinflammatory cytokines in HD patients.
PMID: 16760903 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]Kidney Int. 2006 Jul;70(2):391-8. Epub 2006 Jun 7
Prevention of Disease with Reduced Water (Alkaline, Ionized Water)
Dr.Sanetaka Shirahata
Graduate school of Genetic Resources Technology Kyushu University Hakozaki Higashi-ku Fukuoka, Japan
"It has long been established that reactive oxygen species (ROS) cause many types of damage to biomolecules and cellular structures, that, in turn result in the development of a variety of pathologic states such as diabetes, cancer and aging. Reduced water is defined as alkaline ionized anti-oxidative water produced by reduction of water. Electrolyzed reduced water (ERW) has been demonstrated to be hydrogen-rich water and can scavenge ROS in vitro (Shirahata et al., 1997).
The reduction of proton in water to active hydrogen (atomic hydrogen, hydrogen radical) that can scavenge ROS is very easily caused by a weak current, compared to oxidation of hydroxyl ion to oxygen molecule. Activation of water by magnetic field, collision, minerals etc. will also produce reduced water containing active hydrogen and/or hydrogen molecule.
Several natural waters such as Hita Tenryosui water drawn from deep underground in Hita city in Japan, Nordenau water in Germany and Tlacote water in Mexico are known to alleviate various diseases. We have developed a sensitive method by which we can detect active hydrogen existing in reduced water, and have demonstrated that not only ERW but also natural reduced waters described above contain active hydrogen and scavenge ROS in cultured cells. ROS is known to cause reduction of glucose uptake by inhibiting the insulin-signaling pathway in cultured cells. Reduced water scavenged intracellular ROS and stimulated glucose uptake in the presence or absence of insulin in both rat L6 skeletal muscle cells and mouse 3T3/L1 adipocytes. This insulin-like activity of reduced water was inhibited by wortmannin that is specific inhibitor of PI-3 kinase, a key molecule in insulin signaling pathways. Reduced water protected insulin-responsive cells from sugar toxicity and improved the damaged sugar tolerance of type 2 diabetes model mice, suggesting that reduced water may improve insulin-independent diabetes mellitus.
Cancer cells are generally exposed to high oxidative stress. Reduced water cause impaired tumor phenotypes of human cancer cells, such as reduced growth rate, morphological changes, reduced colony formation ability in soft agar, passage number-dependent telomere shortening, reduced binding abilities of telomere binding proteins and suppressed metastasis.
Reduced water suppressed the growth of cancer cells transplanted into mice, demonstrating their anti-cancer effects in vivo. Reduced water will be applicable to not only medicine but also food industries, agriculture, and manufacturing industries."
Shirahata, S. et al.: Electrolyzed reduced water scavenges active oxygen species and protects DNA from oxidative damage. Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun., 234, 269-274, 1997.
Digestive Problems - Treatment with Ionized Water Prof. Kogure Keizou, Kogure Clinic of Juntendo Hospital, Japan.
"The stomach is readily upset both by diseases affecting the stomach and by other general illnesses. In addition, any nervous tension or anxiety frequently causes gastric upset, vague symptoms when they are under some strain.
The important role of alkaline ionized antioxidant water in our stomach is to neutralize the secretion and strengthen it s functions. Usually, after consuming the antioxidant water for 1 to 3 minutes, the gastric juice increase to 1½ times. For those suffering from hypochlorhydria or achlorhydria ( low in gastric juice ) the presence of alkaline ionized antioxidant water will stimulate the stomach cells to secrete more gastric juice. This in turn enhances digestion and absorption of minerals.
However, on the other hand, those with hyperchlorhydria ( high in gastric juice ), the antioxidant water neutralizes the excessive gastric juice. Hence, it does not create any adverse reaction.
According to the medical lecturer from Maeba University, the pH of the gastric secretion will still remain normal when alkaline ionized antioxidant water is consumed. This proves that the ability of the antioxidant water is able to neutralize as well as to stimulate the secretion."
Selective stimulation of the growth of anaerobic microflora in the human intestinal tract by electrolyzed reducing water.
Med Hypotheses. 2005;64(3):543-6. Vorobjeva NV . Department of Physiology of Microorganisms, Biology Faculty, Lomonosov Moscow State University, 119992 Moscow, Russia. nvvorobjeva@mail.ru
96-99% of the "friendly" or residential microflora of intestinal tract of humans consists of strict anaerobes and only 1-4% of aerobes. Many diseases of the intestine are due to a disturbance in the balance of the microorganisms inhabiting the gut. The treatment of such diseases involves the restoration of the quantity and/or balance of residential microflora in the intestinal tract. It is known that aerobes and anaerobes grow at different oxidation-reduction potentials (ORP). The former require positive E(h) values up to +400 mV. Anaerobes do not grow unless the E(h) value is negative between -300 and -400 mV. In this work, it is suggested that prerequisite for the recovery and maintenance of obligatory anaerobic microflora in the intestinal tract is a negative ORP value of the intestinal milieu. Electrolyzed reducing water with E(h) values between 0 and -300 mV produced in electrolysis devices possesses this property. Drinking such water favours the growth of residential microflora in the gut. A sufficient array of data confirms this idea. However, most researchers explain the mechanism of its action by an antioxidant properties destined to detox the oxidants in the gut and other host tissues. Evidence is presented in favour of the hypothesis that the primary target for electrolyzed reducing water is the residential microflora in the gut.
PMID: 15617863 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
Use of Ionized water in gynecological conditions
Professor Watanabe Ifao, Watanabe Hospital, Japan.
"Ionized alkaline antioxidant water improves body constituents and ensures effective healing to many illnesses. The uses of antioxidant water in gynecological patients have proved to be very effective. The main reason for its effectiveness is that this water can neutralize toxins.
When given antioxidant water to pre-eclamptic toxemia cases, the results are most significant. During my long years of servicing the pre-eclamptic toxemia cases, I found that the women with pre-eclamptic toxemia who consumed antioxidant water tend to deliver healthier babies with stronger muscles. A survey report carried out on babies in this group showed intelligence above average."
Effects of calcium alkaline ionized water on formation and maintenance of osseous tissues (osteoporosis)
Rei Takahashi, Zhenhua Zhang, Yoshinori ItokawaKyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, Dept. of Pathology and Tumor Biology, Fukui Prefectural University, Japan.
"Effects of calcium alkaline ionized water on formation and maintenance of osseous tissues in rats were examined. In the absence of calcium in the diet, no apparent calcification was observed with only osteoid formation being prominent. Striking differences were found among groups that were given diets with 30% and 60% calcium. Rats raised by calcium ionized water showed the least osteogenetic disturbance. Tibiae and humeri are more susceptible to calcium deficiency than femora. Theses results may indicate that calcium in drinking water effectively supplements osteogenesis in case of dietary calcium deficiency. The mechanism involved in osteoid formation such as absorption rate of calcium from the intestine and effects of calcium alkaline ionized drinking water on maintaining bone structure in the process of aging or under the condition of calcium deficiency is investigated.
Osteoporosis that has lately drawn public attention is defined as "conditions of bone brittleness caused by reduction in the amount of bone frames and deterioration of osseous microstructure." Abnormal calcium metabolism has been considered to be one of the factors to contribute to this problem, which in turn is caused by insufficient calcium take-in, reduction in enteral absorption rate of calcium and increase in the amount of calcium in urinal discharge. Under normal conditions, bones absorb old bones by regular metabolism through osteoid formation to maintain their strength and function as supporting structure. It is getting clear that remodeling of bones at the tissue level goes through the process of activation, resorption, reversal, matrix synthesis and mineralization. Another important function of bones is storing minerals especially by coordinating with intestines and kidneys to control calcium concentration in the blood. When something happens to this osteo metabolism, it results in abnormal morphological changes. Our analyses have been focusing mostly on the changes in the amount of bones to examine effects of calcium alkaline ionized water on the reaction system of osteo metabolism and its efficiency. Ibis time, however, we studied it further from the standpoint of histology. In other words, we conducted comparative studies on morphological and kinetic changes of osteogenesis by testing alkaline ionized water, tap water and solution of lactate on rats.
Three week old male Wistar rats were divided into 12 groups by conditions of feed and drinking water. Feeds were prepared with 0%, 30%, 60% and 100% of normal amount of calcium and were given freely. Three types of drinking water, tap water (city water, about 6ppm of Ca), calcium lactate solution (Ca=40ppm) and alkaline ionized water (Ca =40ppm, pH=9, produced by an electrolyzer NDX 4 LMC by Omco OMC Co., Ltd.) were also given keely. Rats' weight, amount of drinking water and feed as well as the content of Ca in drinking water were assayed every day. On the 19th and 25th days of testing, tetracycline hydrochloride was added to the feed for 48 hours so as to bring its concentration to 30mg/kg. On the 30th day, blood samples were taken under Nembutal anesthesia, and tibiae, humeri and femora were taken out to make non decalcified samples. Their conditions of osteoid formation and rotation were observed using Villanueva bone stain and Villanueva goldner stain.
Three groups that were given different types of drinking water and the same amount of Ca in the feed were compared to find out no significant difference in the rate of weight gain and intakes of feed and drinking water. Alkaline ionized water group had significantly greater amount of tibiae and humeri with higher concentration of calcium in the bones.
The group of 0% calcium in the feed saw drastic increase in the amount of osteoid. There was not much difference by types of drinking water. Almost no tetracycline was taken into tibiae and humeri, although a small amount was identified in ferora. As a result, osteogenesis went as far as osteoid formation, but it was likely that decalcification has not happened yet, or most of newly formed bones were absorbed.
As to the groups of 30% and 60% calcium in the feed, increase in the area of tetracycline take in was more identifiable with higher clarity in descending order of alkaline ionized water, calcium lactate solution and tap water groups. Especially in case of tap water group, irregularity among the areas of tetracycline take in was distinctive. The group of 100% calcium in the feed saw some improvements in osteogenesis in descending order of alkaline ionized water, calcium lactate solution and tap water. In any case, bone formation seemed to be in good condition at near normal level.
Alkaline ionized water was regarded to be effective for improvements of osteogenesis under the conditions of insufficient calcium in the feed. Also, the extent. of dysosteogenesis differed by the region. That is, tibiae and humeri tend to have more significant dysosteogenesis than femora.
In addition, there is a possibility that osteo metabolism varies depending on enteral absorption rate of calcium, adjustment of discharge from kidneys and functional adjustment of accessory thyroid in the presence of alkaline ionized water.
We are now studying its impact on calcium concentration in the blood. We are also examining whether it is possible to deter bone deterioration by testing on fast aging mouse models.
Supplementation with alkaline minerals reduces symptoms in patients with chronic low back pain.
1: J Trace Elem Med Biol. 2001;15(2-3):179-83.
Vormann J, Worlitschek M, Goedecke T, Silver B.
Institut fur Pravention und Ernahrung, Ismaning, Germany. vormann@ipev.de
The cause of low back pain is heterogeneous, it has been hypothesised that a latent chronic acidosis might contribute to these symptoms. It was tested whether a supplementation with alkaline minerals would influence symptoms in patients with low back pain symptoms. In an open prospective study 82 patients with chronic low back pain received daily 30 g of a lactose based alkaline multimineral supplement (Basica) over a period of 4 weeks in addition to their usual medication. Pain symptoms were quantified with the "Arhus low back pain rating scale" (ARS). Mean ARS dropped highly significant by 49% from 41 to 21 points after 4 weeks supplemention. In 76 out of 82 patients a reduction in ARS was achieved by the supplementation. Total blood buffering capacity was significantly increased from 77.69 +/- 6.79 to 80.16 +/- 5.24 mmol/L (mean +/- SEM, n = 82, p < n =" 75,">
Neutralization of Toxins
Prof. Kuwata Keijiroo, Doctor of Medicine
"In my opinion, the wonder of alkaline antioxidant water (ionized water) is its ability to neutralize toxins, but it is not a medicine. The difference is that the medicine can only apply to each and individual case, whereas the antioxidant water can be consumed generally and its neutralizing power is something which is very much unexpected.
Now, in brief, let me introduce to you a heart disease case and how it was cured.The patient was a 35 years old male suffering from vascular heart disease. For 5 years, his sickness deteriorated. He was in the Setagays Government Hospital for treatment. During those 5 years, he had been in and out of the hospital 5 to 6 times. He had undergone high tech examinations such as angiogram by injecting VINYL via the vein into the heart. He consulted and sought treatment from many good doctors where later he underwent a major surgical operation. Upon his discharge from the hospital, he quit his job to convalesce. However, each time when his illness relapsed, the attack seemed to be even more severe.
Last year, in August, his relatives were in despair and expected he would not live much longer. It so happened at that time that the victim's relative came across alkaline antioxidant water processor. His illness responded well and he is now on the road to recovery."
(In the United States, cardiovascular diseases account for more than one-half of the approximate 2 million deaths occurring each year…. It is estimated that optimal conditioning of drinking water could reduce this cardiovascular disease mortality rate by as much as 15 percent in the United States)
From: Report of the Safe Drinking Water Committee of the National Academy of Sciences, 1977
Electrolyzed-reduced water scavenges active oxygen species and protects DNA from oxidative damage.
Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 1997 May 8;234(1):269-74.
Shirahata S , Kabayama S , Nakano M , Miura T , Kusumoto K , Gotoh M , Hayashi H , Otsubo K , Morisawa S , Katakura Y . Institute of Cellular Regulation Technology, Graduate School of Genetic Resources Technology, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan. sirahata@grt.kyushu-u.ac.jp
Active oxygen species or free radicals are considered to cause extensive oxidative damage to biological macromolecules, which brings about a variety of diseases as well as aging. The ideal scavenger for active oxygen should be 'active hydrogen'. 'Active hydrogen' can be produced in reduced water near the cathode during electrolysis of water. Reduced water exhibits high pH, low dissolved oxygen (DO), extremely high dissolved molecular hydrogen (DH), and extremely negative redox potential (RP) values. Strongly electrolyzed-reduced water, as well as ascorbic acid, (+)-catechin and tannic acid, completely scavenged O.-2 produced by the hypoxanthine-xanthine oxidase (HX-XOD) system in sodium phosphate buffer (pH 7.0). The superoxide dismutase (SOD)-like activity of reduced water is stable at 4 degrees C for over a month and was not lost even after neutralization, repeated freezing and melting, deflation with sonication, vigorous mixing, boiling, repeated filtration, or closed autoclaving, but was lost by opened autoclaving or by closed autoclaving in the presence of tungsten trioxide which efficiently adsorbs active atomic hydrogen. Water bubbled with hydrogen gas exhibited low DO, extremely high DH and extremely low RP values, as does reduced water, but it has no SOD-like activity. These results suggest that the SOD-like activity of reduced water is not due to the dissolved molecular hydrogen but due to the dissolved atomic hydrogen (active hydrogen). Although SOD accumulated H2O2 when added to the HX-XOD system, reduced water decreased the amount of H2O2 produced by XOD. Reduced water, as well as catalase and ascorbic acid, could directly scavenge H2O2. Reduce water suppresses single-strand breakage of DNA b active oxygen species produced by the Cu(II)-catalyzed oxidation of ascorbic acid in a dose-dependent manner, suggesting that reduced water can scavenge not only O2.- and H2O2, but also 1O2 and .OH.
PMID: 9169001 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
The mechanism of the enhanced antioxidant effects against superoxide anion radicals of reduced water produced by electrolysis.
Biophys Chem. 2004 Jan 1;107(1):71-82.
Hanaoka K , Sun D , Lawrence R , Kamitani Y , Fernandes G . Bio-REDOX Laboratory Inc. 1187-4, Oaza-Ueda, Ueda-shi, Nagano-ken 386-0001, Japan. hanak@rapid.ocn.ne.jp
We reported that reduced water produced by electrolysis enhanced the antioxidant effects of proton donors such as ascorbic acid (AsA) in a previous paper. We also demonstrated that reduced water produced by electrolysis of 2 mM NaCl solutions did not show antioxidant effects by itself. We reasoned that the enhancement of antioxidant effects may be due to the increase of the ionic product of water as solvent. The ionic product of water (pKw) was estimated by measurements of pH and by a neutralization titration method. As an indicator of oxidative damage, Reactive Oxygen Species- (ROS) mediated DNA strand breaks were measured by the conversion of supercoiled phiX-174 RF I double-strand DNA to open and linear forms. Reduced water had a tendency to suppress single-strand breakage of DNA induced by reactive oxygen species produced by H2O2/Cu (II) and HQ/Cu (II) systems. The enhancement of superoxide anion radical dismutation activity can be explained by changes in the ionic product of water in the reduced water.
PMID: 14871602 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
Protective mechanism of reduced water against alloxan-induced pancreatic beta-cell damage: Scavenging effect against reactive oxygen species
Authors: Li Y.1; Nishimura T.1; Teruya K.1; Maki T.1; Komatsu T.1; Hamasaki T.1; Kashiwagi T.1; Kabayama S.2; Shim S-Y.1; Katakura Y.1; Osada K.1; Kawahara T.1; Otsubo K.2; Morisawa S.2; Ishii Y.3; Gadek Z.4; Shirahata S.5 Source: Cytotechnology, Volume 40, Numbers 1-3, 2002, pp. 139-149(11)
Publisher: Springer Abstract: Reactive oxygen species (ROS) cause irreversible damage to biological macromolecules, resulting in many diseases. Reduced water (RW) such as hydrogen-rich electrolyzed reduced water and natural reduced waters like Hita Tenryosui water in Japan and Nordenau water in Germany that are known to improve various diseases, could protect a hamster pancreatic beta cell line, HIT-T15 from alloxan-induced cell damage. Alloxan, a diabetogenic compound, is used to induce type 1 diabetes mellitus in animals. Its diabetogenic effect is exerted via the production of ROS. Alloxan-treated HIT-T15 cells exhibited lowered viability, increased intracellular ROS levels, elevated cytosolic free Ca2+ concentration, DNA fragmentation, decreased intracellular ATP levels and lowering of glucose-stimulated release of insulin. RW completely prevented the generation of alloxan-induced ROS, increase of cytosolic Ca2+ concentration, decrease of intracellular ATP level, and lowering of glucose-stimulated insulin release, and strongly blocked DNA fragmentation, partially suppressing the lowering of viability of alloxan-treated cells. Intracellular ATP levels and glucose-stimulated insulin secretion were increased by RW to 2–3.5 times and 2–4 times, respectively, suggesting that RW enhances the glucose-sensitivity and glucose response of beta-cells. The protective activity of RW was stable at 4 °C for over a month, but was lost by autoclaving. These results suggest that RW protects pancreatic beta-cells from alloxan-induced cell damage by preventing alloxan-derived ROS generation. RW may be useful in preventing alloxan-induced type 1-diabetes mellitus.
Affiliations: 1: Department of Genetic Resources Technology, Faculty of Agriculture, Kyushu University, 6-10-1 Hakozaki, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka, Japan 2: Nihon Trim Co. Ltd., 1-8-34 Oyodonaka, Kita-ku, Osaka, Japan 3: Hita Tenryosui Co. Ltd., 647 Nakanoshima, Hita, Oita, Japan 4: Center for Holistic Medicine and Naturopathy, Schmallenberg-Nordenau, Germany 5: Department of Genetic Resources Technology, Faculty of Agriculture, Kyushu University, 6-10-1 Hakozaki, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka, Japan (Author for correspondence; E-mail: sirahata@grt.kyushu-u.ac.jp ; Fax: +81 92 642 3052)
Electrolyzed hydrogen-saturated water for drinking use elicits an antioxidative effect: a feeding test with rats.
Biosci Biotechnol Biochem. 2005 Oct;69(10):1985-7
Yanagihara T, Arai K, Miyamae K, Sato B, Shudo T, Yamada M, Aoyama M. MiZ Co., Ltd., Fujisawa-shi, Kanagawa, Japan.
A new type of electrolyzed hydrogen-saturated (EHS) water was produced using a water-electrolyzing device equipped with a special cation exchanger. Use of the EHS water for drinking in a feeding test with rats elicited an antioxidative effect. After intraperitoneal injection of 2,2-azobis-amidinopropane dihydrochloride, urinary secretion of 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine and hepatic formation of peroxidized lipid were significantly lessened in rats which had received the EHS water for one week. These results suggest the possibility that this drinking water shows an effect in reduction of oxidative stress in the body.
PMID: 16244454 [PubMed - in process]
Eczema Treatment
Prof. Tamura Tatsuji, Keifuku Rehabilitation Center, Japan.
"Eczema is used to describe several varieties of skin conditions, which have a number of common features. The exact cause or causes of eczema are not fully understood. In many cases, eczema can be attributed by external irritants.
Let me introduce a patient who recovered from skin disease after consuming the antioxidant water. This patient suffered 10 years of eczema and could not be cured effectively even under specialist treatment. This patient, who is 70 years of age, is the president of a vehicle spare parts company. After the war, his lower limbs suffered acute eczema, which later became chronic. He was repeatedly treated in a specialist skin hospital.
The left limb responded well to treatment, but not so on the right limb. He suffered severe itchiness, which, when scratched led to bleeding. During the last 10 years, he was seen and treated by many doctors. When I first examined him, his lower limb around the joints was covered with vesicles. Weeping occurred owing to serum exuding from the vesicles.
I advised him to try consuming antioxidant water. He bought a unit and consumed the antioxidant water religiously and used the acidic water to bathe the affected areas. After 2 weeks of treatment the vesicles dried up. The eczema was completely cleared without any relapse after 1½ months"
Clinical Impovements Obtained From The Intake Of Reduced Water
Extracts from the Presentation At The Eight Annual International Symposium On man And His Environment in Health And Disease on February 24th 1990, at The Grand Kempinski Hotel, Dalls, Texas, USA by Dr. H. Hayashi, M.D. and Dr. M Kawamura, M.D ., on: THE CONCEPT OF PREHEPATIC MEDICINES
Since the introduction of alkaline ionic water in our clinic in 1985, we have had the following interesting clinical experiences in the use of this type of water. By the use of alkaline ionic water for drinking and the preparation of meals for our in-patients, we have noticed :-
Declines in blood sugar levels in diabetic patients.
Improvements in peripheral circulation in diabetic gangrene.
Declines in uric acid levels in patients with gout.
Improvements in liver function exams in hepatic disorders.
Improvements in gastroduodenal ulcer and prevention of their recurrences.
Improvements in hypertension and hypotension.
Improvements in allergic disorders such as asthma, urticaria, rhinites and atopic dermatitis.
Improvements in persistent diarrhoea which occurred after gastrectomy.
Quicker improvements in post operative bower paralysis.
Improvements in serum bilirubin levels in new born babies.
Being confirming clinical improvements, we have always observed changes of stools of the patients, with the colour of their feaces changing from black-brown colour to a brigher yellow-brown one, and the odour of their feaces becoming almost negligible.
The number of patients complaining of constipation also decreased markedly. The change of stool findings strongly suggests that alkaline ionic water intake can decrease the production of putrefield or pathogenic metabolites.
Devices to produce reduced water were introduced into our clinic in May 1985. Based on the clinical experiences obtained in the past 15 years, it can be said that introduction of electrolyzed-reduced water for drinking and cooking purpose for in-patients should be the very prerequisite in our daily medical practices. Any dietary recipe cannot be a scientific one if property of water is not taken by the patients is not taken into consideration.
The Ministry of Health and Welfare in Japan announced in 1965 that the intake of reduced water is effective for restoration of intestinal flora metabolism
TITLE: Spatial analysis of the relationship between mortality from cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disease and drinking water hardness.
AUTHORS: Ferrandiz J, Abellan JJ, Gomez-Rubio V, Lopez-Quilez A, Sanmartin P, Abellan C, Martinez-Beneito MA, Melchor I, Vanaclocha H, Zurriaga O, Ballester F, Gil JM, Perez-Hoyos S, Ocana R SOURCE: Environ Health Perspect. 2004 Jun;112(9):1037-44
ABSTRACT: Previously published scientific papers have reported a negative correlation between drinking water hardness and cardiovascular mortality.
Some ecologic and case-control studies suggest the protective effect of calcium and magnesium concentration in drinking water. In this article we present an analysis of this protective relationship in 538 municipalities of Comunidad Valenciana (Spain) from 1991-1998.
We used the Spanish version of the Rapid Inquiry Facility (RIF) developed under the European Environment and Health Information System (EUROHEIS) research project. The strategy of analysis used in our study conforms to the exploratory nature of the RIF that is used as a tool to obtain quick and flexible insight into epidemiologic surveillance problems. This article describes the use of the RIF to explore possible associations between disease indicators and environmental factors.
We used exposure analysis to assess the effect of both protective factors--calcium and magnesium--on mortality from cerebrovascular (ICD-9 430-438) and ischemic heart (ICD-9 410-414) diseases. This study provides statistical evidence of the relationship between mortality from cardiovascular diseases and hardness of drinking water.
This relationship is stronger in cerebrovascular disease than in ischemic heart disease, is more pronounced for women than for men, and is more apparent with magnesium than with calcium concentration levels. Nevertheless, the protective nature of these two factors is not clearly established. Our results suggest the possibility of protectiveness but cannot be claimed as conclusive. The weak effects of these covariates make it difficult to separate them from the influence of socioeconomic and environmental factors.
We have also performed disease mapping of standardized mortality ratios to detect clusters of municipalities with high risk. Further standardization by levels of calcium and magnesium in drinking water shows changes in the maps when we remove the effect of these covariates.
TITLE: Fluoride in the drinking water and the geographical variation of coronary heart disease in Finland.
AUTHORS: Kaipio J, Nayha S, Valtonen V.
SOURCE: Eur J Cardiovasc Prev Rehabil. 2004 Feb;11(1):56-62.
BACKGROUND: Fluoride in drinking water prevents dental disease, which in turn has been reported to increase the risk of coronary heart disease (CHD). Since mortality from CHD in Finland is high in the north-east where the fluoride content of drinking water is low, the association was examined here in more detail.
DESIGN: Mortality from CHD during the period 1961-1995 in 365 rural areas of Finland (188 888 deaths) was linked with 2131 drinking water fluoride determinations performed in 1958 using negative binomial regression, adjustments being made for sex, age, mean income of the resident commune and drinking water magnesium and calcium.
RESULTS: An inverse J-shaped relationship was found between drinking water fluoride and CHD, the association being most pronounced in the 1960s and levelling off consistently as a function of time. In 1961-1970, the adjusted mortality from CHD was 22% (95% confidence interval 18-27%) lower in the fourth quintile of fluoride (0.15-0.30 mg/l) than in the first quintile (0.00-0.06 mg/l) but this deficit reduced to 13% (7-18%) in 1991-1995.
CONCLUSIONS: Although causality cannot be asserted, the geographical pattern of CHD in Finland is consistent with the concentration of fluoride in drinking water. One mechanism could be that fluoride prevents dental infections, which in turn reduces mortality from CHD. The more widespread use of fluoridated toothpastes, soft drinks and certain food items since the 1960s may have reduced the significance of drinking water as a source of fluoride.
TITLE: Ecologic study of water hardness and cerebrovascular mortality in Japan.
AUTHORS: Miyake Y, Iki M.
SOURCE: Arch Environ Health. 2003 Mar;58(3):163-6.
ABSTRACT: Elevated levels of water hardness have been associated with reduced mortality from cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. In this ecologic study, the authors examined the relationship between water hardness and cerebrovascular mortality in the 44 municipalities of Osaka Prefecture, Japan. Data on cerebrovascular death rates and water hardness in each municipality were obtained from public records; information on socioeconomic and health-care status in each municipality was incorporated with multiple logistic-regression analysis. The authors were unable to substantiate an inverse association of water hardness with cerebrovascular mortality--although the adjusted odds ratio in which the highest vs. lowest tertiles of water hardness were compared was 0.90 (95% confidence interval = 0.79, 1.02) in females. In addition, the difference between the sexes was not significant. In summary, the authors found no evidence that water hardness protected against cerebrovascular mortality.
TITLE: Drinking water hardness and chronic degenerative diseases. II. Cardiovascular diseases.
AUTHORS: Monarca S, Zerbini I, Simonati C, Gelatti U.
SOURCE: Ann Ig. 2003 Jan-Feb;15(1):41-56.
ABSTRACT: Since the 1950s a causal relation between water hardness and cardiovascular diseases (CVD) in humans has been hypothesized. In order to evaluate the influence of calcium and magnesium, the minerals responsible for the hardness of drinking water, on human health, a review of all the articles published on the subject from 1980 up to today has been carried out. Many but not all geographic correlation studies showed an inverse association between water hardness and mortality for CVD. Most case-control and one cohort studies showed an inverse relation, statistically significant, between mortality from CVD and water levels of magnesium, but not calcium. Consumption of water containing high concentrations of magnesium seems to reduce of about 30-35% the mortality for CVD, but not the incidence. This inverse association is supported by clinical and experimental findings and is biologically plausible and in line with Hill's criteria for a cause-effect relationship.
TITLE: Contribution of food products and drinking water to the intake of minerals by elderly
AUTHORS: Kaluza J, Zysk A, Brzozowska A.
SOURCE: Rocz Panstw Zakl Hig. 2002;53(4):407-17.
ABSTRACT: The aim of this paper was to assess the contribution of food product groups and drinking water to mineral and trace elements supply. On the basis of 3-day record data it was found that the intake of calcium and copper by 75-80 years old elderly living in Warsaw area (Poland) was insufficient. The same for iron among women and zinc among men was observed. The RDA for energy was covered in 90% by men's diets and in 78% by women's diets. Dairy products were the main source of calcium (48%), cereals were the main source of magnesium (29%), while iron came mainly from cereals (31%) and meat products (21%). Two latter groups of products also significantly contributed in zinc intake by the elderly (29% and 25% respectively). Cereals (33%) and potatoes (16%) were the main sources of copper. Drinking water had significant share only in calcium (14%) and zinc (9%) intake. Cereals, vegetables, dairy and meat products gave relatively more minerals to men's diets, while potatoes, fruits, eggs and other products (fats, sugar, sweets etc.)--to women's diets.
TITLE: Magnesium in drinking water in relation to morbidity and mortality from acute myocardial infarction [In Process Citation]
AUTHORS: Rubenowitz E; Molin I; Axelsson G; Rylander R
SOURCE: Epidemiology 2000 Jul;11(4):416-21
ABSTRACT: We investigated the importance of magnesium and calcium in drinking water in relation to morbidity and mortality from acute myocardial infarction. Cases were men and women 50-74 years of age living in 18 Swedish municipalities who had suffered an acute myocardial infarction some time between October 1, 1994, and June 30, 1996. Controls were randomly selected from the same study base. We interviewed the surviving cases (N = 823) and controls (N = 853), focusing on risk factors for acute myocardial infarction. We collected individual data on drinking water levels of magnesium and calcium. We ubjects by quartile of water magnesium or calcium levels. The total number of cases was similar in the four quartiles. The risk of death was 7.6% (95% confidence interval = 2.1-13.1) lower in the quartile with high magnesium levels (> or = 8.3 mg/liter). The odds ratio for death from acute myocardial infarction in relation to water magnesium was 0.64 (95% confidence interval = 0.42-0.97) for the highest quartile relative to the three lower ones. Multivariate analyses showed that other risk factors were not important confounders. For calcium, this study was inconclusive. The data suggest that magnesium in drinking water is associated with lower mortality from acute myocardial infarction, but not with the total incidence.
TITLE: Magnesium in drinking water supplies and mortality from acute myocardial infarction in north west England.
AUTHORS: Maheswaran R; Morris S; Falconer S; Grossinho A; Perry I; Wakefield J; Elliott P
SOURCE: Heart 1999 Oct;82(4):455-460 [Record as supplied by publisher]
ABSTRACT:
OBJECTIVES: To examine whether higher concentrations of magnesium in drinking water supplies are associated with lower mortality from acute myocardial infarction at a small area geographical level; to examine if the association is modified by age, sex, and socioeconomic deprivation.
DESIGN: Small area geographical study using 13 794 census enumeration districts. Water constituent concentrations (magnesium, calcium, fluoride, lead) measured at water supply zone and assigned to enumeration districts.
SETTING: 305 water supply zones in north west England. SUBJECTS: Resident population of 1 124 623 men and 1 372 036 women (1991 census) aged 45 years or more.
MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Mortality from acute myocardial infarction, International Classification of Diseases, ninth revision (ICD-9) 410. Subsidiary analysis examined deaths from ischaemic heart disease, ICD 410-414.
RESULTS: There were 21 339 male and 17 883 female deaths from acute myocardial infarction in 1990-92. Drinking water magnesium concentrations in water zones ranged from 2 mg/l to 111 mg/l (mean (SD) 19 (20) mg/l, median 12 mg/l); 24% of variation in magnesium concentrations was within zone and 76% was between zone. The relative risk of mortality from acute myocardial infarction (standardised for age, sex, and Carstairs deprivation quintile) for a quadrupling of magnesium concentrations in drinking water (for example, 20 mg/l v 5 mg/l) was 1.01 (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.99 to 1.03). When adjusted for north-south and east-west trends in mortality from acute myocardial infarction and for drinking water calcium, fluoride, and lead concentrations, this relative risk was 1.01 (95% CI 0.96 to 1.06). There was no evidence of a protective effect for acute myocardial infarction even among age, sex, and deprivation groups that were likely to be relatively magnesium deficient. For ischaemic heart disease mortality there was an apparent protective effect of magnesium and calcium (with calcium predominating in the joint model), but these were no longer significant when the geographical trends were incorporated.
CONCLUSIONS: No evidence was found of an association between magnesium concentrations in drinking water supplies and mortality from acute myocardial infarction. These results do not support the hypothesis that magnesium is the key water factor in relation to mortality from heart disease.
TITLE: Magnesium in drinking water and the risk of death from diabetes mellitus. AUTHORS: Yang CY; Chiu HF; Cheng MF; Tsai SS; Hung CF; Tseng YT
SOURCE: Magnes Res 1999 Jun;12(2):131-7
ABSTRACT: This report examines whether magnesium in drinking water is protective against the probability of dying from diabetes mellitus. All eligible deaths from diabetes (6781 cases) of Taiwan residents from 1990 through 1994 were compared with deaths from other causes (6781 controls), and the levels of magnesium in the drinking water of these residents was determined. Data on magnesium levels in drinking water throughout Taiwan were obtained from the Taiwan Water Supply Corporation (TWSC). Controls were pair matched to the cases by , ear of birth, and year of death. The results of the present study show that there seems to be a significant protective effect of magnesium intake from drinking water on the risk of dying from diabetes mellitus. This is an important finding for the Taiwan water industry and human health.
TITLE: Magnesium and calcium in drinking water and death from acute myocardial infarction in women.
AUTHORS: Rubenowitz E; Axelsson G; Rylander R
SOURCE: Epidemiology 1999 Jan;10(1):31-6
ABSTRACT: A relation between water hardness and cardiovascular death has been shown in previous studies. In this case-control study, we investigated the levels of magnesium and calcium in drinking water and death from acute myocardial infarction among women. The study population encompassed 16 municipalities in southern Sweden. Cases were women who had died from acute myocardial infarction between the ages of 50 and 69 years during 1982-1993 (N = 378), and controls were women who had died from cancer (N = 1,368). We obtained magnesium and calcium concentrations of the individual water sources. We divided the subjects into quartiles and found that odds ratios (ORs) were lower at higher levels of both magnesium and calcium. For the quartile with the highest magnesium levels (> or =9.9 mg/liter), the OR adjusted for age and calcium was 0.70 (95% confidence interval = 0.50-0.99). For calcium, the adjusted OR for the quartile with the highest level (> or =70 mg/liter) was 0.66 (95% confidence interval = 0.47-0.94).
The results suggest that magnesium and calcium in drinking water are important protective factors for death from acute myocardial infarction among women.
TITLE: Magnesium in drinking water and body magnesium status measured using an oral loading test.
AUTHORS: Rubenowitz E; Axelsson G; Rylander R
SOURCE: Scand J Clin Lab Invest 1998 Aug;58(5):423-8
ABSTRACT: Epidemiological studies have shown an inverse relationship between magnesium in drinking water and death from ischaemic heart disease. The question is whether magnesium in drinking water can be critical for the body magnesium status. The aim of this study was to investigate, using an oral loading test, whether a change in body magnesium status could be found among people who change from drinking water with a low magnesium concentration to water with higher concentrations. The subjects participating in the study were 9 men and 3 women 65-70 years old, living in the city of Goteborg, Sweden, where the magnesium concentration in the tap water is low (1.6 mg/l). Drinking water was prepared with 200 mg MgCl2 x 6H2O added per litre to a level of 25 mg/l, and was distributed to the subjects twice a week for 6 weeks. Excretion of magnesium, potassium and creatinine, basal and after oral magnesium loading (tablets containing 575 mg), was measured in 24 h urine before and after the supplementation period. Calculations were made for the total excretion (mmol/24 h), and in relation to creatinine. The subjects' intake of magnesium via food and water was estimated using a questionnaire. There was a difference between the post load excretion of magnesium, expressed as the magnesium/creatinine ratio, before and after the supplementation period. The mean percentage change was a 14.6% (p=0.047) increase. No changes were found for potassium. In summary, the results indicate that magnesium in drinking water can affect body magnesium status.
TITLE: Variation in the mineral content of commercially available bottled waters: implications for health and disease.
AUTHORS: Garzon P; Eisenberg MJ
SOURCE: Am J Med 1998 Aug;105(2):125-30 A
ABSTRACT: PURPOSE: Although the annual consumption of bottled water in North America is 12.7 gallons per capita, little is known about the potential health effects of these waters. We reviewed the amounts of major minerals found in commercially available bottled waters, the recommended daily allowances for these minerals, and their beneficial and harmful effects.
METHODS: We obtained the mineral content of various commercially available bottled waters in North America and Europe from The Pocket Guide to Bottled Water. We then conducted a Medline search to identify articles examining the beneficial and harmful effects of magnesium, sodium, and calcium.
RESULTS: Great variation exists in the mineral content of commercially available bottled waters. Among the bottled waters that we reviewed, the magnesium content ranges from 0 to 126 mg per liter, the sodium content ranges from 0 to 1,200 mg per liter, and the calcium content ranges from 0 to 546 mg per liter. Epidemiologic and clinical studies suggest that magnesium may reduce the frequency of sudden death, that sodium contributes to the occurrence of hypertension, and that calcium may help prevent osteoporosis.
CONCLUSION: The ideal bottled water should be rich in magnesium and calcium and have a low sodium content. Because there is great variation in the mineral content of commercially available bottled waters, the actual mineral content of bottled water should be considered when selecting one for consumption.
TITLE: Calcium and magnesium in drinking water and risk of death from rectal cancer.
AUTHORS: Yang CY; Chiu HF
SOURCE: Int J Cancer 1998 Aug 12;77(4):528-32
ABSTRACT: The possible association between the risk of rectal cancer and the levels of calcium and magnesium in drinking water from municipal supplies was investigated in a matched case-control study in Taiwan. All eligible rectal-cancer deaths (986 cases) of Taiwan residents from 1990 through 1994 were compared with a sample of deaths from other causes (986 controls), and the levels of calcium and magnesium in the drinking water of these residents were determined. Data on calcium and magnesium levels in drinking water throughout Taiwan were obtained from the Taiwan Water Supply Corporation (TWSC). The control group consisted of people who died from other causes, and the controls were pair- matched to the cases by gender, year of birth and year of death. Compared with those with calcium levels below 22.0 mg/liter, the adjusted odd ratios (95% confidence interval) were 0.72 (0.53-0.98) for the group with water calcium levels between 22.0 and 40.8 mg/liter and 0.63 (0.45-0.87) for the group with calcium levels of 40.9 mg/liter or more. The adjusted odd ratios were not statistically significant for the relationship between magnesium levels in drinking water and rectal cancer.
The results of the present study show that there may be a significant protective effect of calcium intake from drinking water on the risk of rectal cancer.
TITLE: Colon cancer mortality and total hardness levels in Taiwan's drinking water.
AUTHORS: Yang CY; Hung CF
SOURCE: Arch Environ Contam Toxicol 1998 Jul;35(1):148-51
ABSTRACT: The possible association between the risk of colon cancer and hardness levels in drinking water from municipal supplies was investigated in a matched case-control study in Taiwan. All eligible colon cancer deaths (1,714 cases) of Taiwan residents from 1989 through 1993 were compared with deaths from other causes (1,714 controls) and the hardness levels of the drinking water used by these residents were determined. Data on water hardness throughout Taiwan have been collected from Taiwan Water Supply Corporation (TWSC). The control group consisted of people who died from other causes and the controls were pair matched to the cases by , ear of birth, and year of death. The results show a significant negative relationship between drinking water hardness and colon cancer mortality. Odds ratio and 95% confidence intervals were 1.22 (1.04-1. 43) and 1.46 (1.22-1.75), respectively, for exposure to moderately hard water and soft water compared with the use of hard water. Trend analyses showed an increasing odds ratio for colon cancer with decreasing levels of hardness in drinking water. This is an important finding for the Taiwan water industry and human health.
TITLE: Calcium, magnesium, and nitrate in drinking water and gastric cancer mortality.
AUTHORS: Yang CY; Cheng MF; Tsai SS; Hsieh YL
SOURCE: Jpn J Cancer Res 1998 Feb;89(2):124-30
ABSTRACT: The possible association between the risk of gastric cancer and the levels of calcium, magnesium, and nitrate in drinking water from municipal supplies was investigated in a matched case-control study in Taiwan. Records of gastric cancer deaths among eligible residents in Taiwan from 1987 through 1991 were obtained from the Bureau of Vital Statistics of the Taiwan Provincial Department of Health. Controls were deaths from other causes and were pair-matched to the cases by , ear-of-birth, and year-of-death. Each matched control was selected randomly from the set of possible controls for each case. Data on calcium, magnesium, and nitrate levels in drinking water throughout Taiwan were obtained from the Taiwan Water Supply Corporation. The municipality of residence of the cases and controls was assumed to be the source of the subject's calcium, magnesium, and nitrate exposure via drinking water. The subjects were divided into tertiles according to the levels of calcium, magnesium, and nitrate in their drinking water. The results of the present study show that there is a significant positive association between drinking water nitrate exposure and gastric cancer mortality. The present study also suggests that there was a significant protective effect of calcium intake from drinking water on the risk of gastric cancer. Magnesium also exerts a protective effect against gastric cancer, but only for the group with the highest levels.
TITLE: Magnesium in drinking water and ischemic heart disease.
AUTHORS: Marx A; Neutra RR
SOURCE: Epidemiol Rev 1997;19(2):258-72
ABSTRACT: The associations found in the general populations of a number of different countries are suggestive and warrant an integrated program of laboratory and epidemiologic research to reject or confirm the magnesium-IHD hypothesis.
Singling out this particular risk factor has two justifications. First, as would be the case with any epidemiologic risk factor for IHD whose attributable risk was large enough to be detectable through epidemiology, applying that attributable risk to the vast annual morbidity and mortality from IHD would translate into tens of thousands of lives benefited and millions of dollars in hospital costs avoided per year. Second, this particular risk factor could conceivably be eliminated by an inexpensive supplementation program.
For example, a low-sodium, higher-magnesium and -potassium table salt has been recommended and used in Finland for many years, during a period when the prevalence of hypertension in population surveys was said to decrease (117). Interventions which do not require behavioral change have always been the most cost-effective in public health. We therefore urge funding agencies to give priority to studies determining whether there are unforeseen adverse effects of magnesium for some population subgroups and whether the apparent benefit derived from low doses of magnesium in the development of IHD or IHD death is real. Furthermore, researchers should determine which chemical form of magnesium is best absorbed and most effective. We need to better understand the interrelation of various water and food constituents, as well as individual risk factors, in the pathogenesis of IHD. Susceptible individuals who are at higher risk of being depleted of magnesium need to be identified, and potential untoward effects of magnesium should be studied. Future research must provide better answers about low level waterborne magnesium before recommendations to the public can be made.
TITLE: Calcium and magnesium in drinking water and risk of death from cerebrovascular disease.
AUTHORS: Yang CY
SOURCE: Stroke 1998 Feb;29(2):411-4
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Many studies have demonstrated a negative association between mortality from cardiovascular or cerebrovascular diseases and water hardness. This report examines whether calcium and magnesium in drinking water are protective against cerebrovascular disease.
METHODS: All eligible cerebrovascular deaths (17133 cases) of Taiwan residents from 1989 through 1993 were compared with deaths from other causes (17133 controls), and the levels of calcium and magnesium in drinking water of these residents were determined. Data on calcium and magnesium levels in drinking water throughout Taiwan were obtained from the Taiwan Water Supply Corporation. The control group consisted of people who died from other causes, and the controls were pair matched to the cases by , ear of birth, and year of death.
RESULTS: The adjusted odds ratios (95% confidence interval) were 0.75 (0.65 to 0.85) for the group with water magnesium levels between 7.4 and 13.4 mg/L and 0.60 (0.52 to 0.70) for the group with magnesium levels of 13.5 mg/L or more. After adjustment for magnesium levels in drinking water, there was no difference between the groups with different levels of calcium.
CONCLUSIONS: The results of the present study show that there is a significant protective effect of magnesium intake from drinking water on the risk of cerebrovascular disease. This is an important finding for the Taiwan water industry and human health.
TITLE: Calcium and magnesium in drinking water and risk of death from colon cancer.
AUTHORS: Yang CY; Chiu HF; Chiu JF; Tsai SS; Cheng MF
SOURCE: Jpn J Cancer Res 1997 Oct;88(10):928-33
ABSTRACT: The possible association between the risk of colon cancer and the levels of calcium and magnesium in drinking water from municipal supplies was investigated in a matched case-control study in Taiwan. All eligible colon cancer deaths (1714 cases) of Taiwan residents from 1989 through 1993 were compared with deaths from other causes (1714 controls), and the levels of calcium and magnesium in drinking water of these residents were determined. Data on calcium and magnesium levels in drinking water throughout Taiwan were obtained from the Taiwan Water Supply Corporation. The control group consisted of people who died from other causes and the controls were pair-matched to the cases by , ear-of-birth, and year-of-death. The adjusted odd ratios (95% confidence interval) were 0.79 (0.64-0.98) for the group with water calcium levels between 24.4 and 42.3 mg/liter and 0.58 (0.47-0.73) for the group with calcium levels of 42.4 mg/liter or more. The adjusted odd ratios were not statistically significant for the relationship between magnesium levels in drinking water and colon cancer. The results of the present study show that there is a significant protective effect of calcium intake from drinking water against colon cancer.
TITLE: Magnesium and calcium in drinking water and cerebrovascular mortality in Taiwan.
AUTHORS: Yang CY; Chiu HF; Chiu JF; Wang TN; Cheng MF
SOURCE: Magnes Res 1997 Mar;10(1):51-7
ABSTRACT: The relationship between death from cerebrovascular disease and the levels of magnesium and calcium in drinking water was examined using an ecological design. The study area consisted of 227 municipalities in Taiwan. Data on the levels of magnesium and calcium in drinking water have been collected from the Taiwan Water Supply Corporation (TWSC). These levels of magnesium and calcium were compared using the standardized mortality ratios (SMRs) for cerebrovascular disease (1981- 1990). A statistically significant inverse relationship was present between cerebrovascular mortality and levels of both magnesium and calcium after adjusting for urbanization index. After adjustment for calcium levels in drinking water and urbanization index, the weighted multivariate-adjusted regression coefficient indicated a decrease of 0.248 in the standardized mortality ratios (SMRs) for every 100 mg/L increase in magnesium levels in drinking water. The results from this study strengthen the hypothesis that magnesium in drinking water helps to prevent death from cerebrovascular disease.
TITLE: Magnesium in drinking water and death from acute myocardial infarction.
AUTHORS: Rubenowitz E; Axelsson G; Rylander
SOURCE: Am J Epidemiol 1996 Mar 1;143(5):456-62
ABSTRACT: The relation between death from acute myocardial infarction and the level of magnesium in drinking water was examined using mortality registers and a case-control design. The study area comprised 17 municipalities in the southern part of Sweden that have different magnesium levels in the drinking water. Cases were men in the area who had died of acute myocardial infarction between ages 50 and 69 years during the period 1982-1989 (n = 854). The controls were men of the same age in the same area who had died from cancer during the same time period (n = 989). In both groups, only men who consumed water supplied from municipal waterworks were included in the study. The subjects were divided into quartiles according to the drinking water levels of magnesium and calcium and the quotient between magnesium and calcium. The odds ratios for death from acute myocardial infarction in the groups were inversely related to the amount of magnesium in drinking water. For the group with the highest levels of magnesium in drinking water, the odds ratio adjusted for age and calcium level was 0.65 (95 percent confidence interval 0.50-0.84). There was no such relation for calcium. For the magnesium/calcium quotient, the odds ratio was lower only for the group with the highest quotient. These data suggest that magnesium in drinking water is a important protective factor for death from acute myocardial infarction among males.
TITLE: Environmental magnesium deficiency as a cardiovascular risk factor.
AUTHORS: Rylander R
SOURCE: J Cardiovasc Risk 1996 Feb;3(1):4-10
The major routes of intake are through food and water. Through changes in the treatment of foodstuffs and altered diets, as well as increased use of surface water with low magnesium content, magnesium deficiency is present in modern society. Magnesium deficiency causes cardiac arrhythmia and several studies suggest that a low level of magnesium in drinking water is a risk factor for myocardial infarction, particularly among men. Before general prevention programmes can be recommended, risk groups must be defined and experimental intervention programmes performed.
TITLE: Rectal cancer mortality and total hardness levels in Taiwan's drinking water.
AUTHORS: Yang CY; Tsai SS; Lai TC; Hung CF; Chiu HF
SOURCE: Environ Res 1999 May;80(4):311-6
ABSTRACT: The possible association between the risk of rectal cancer and hardness levels in drinking water from municipal supplies was investigated in a matched case-control study in Taiwan. All eligible rectal cancer deaths (986 cases) of Taiwan residents from 1990 through 1994 were compared with deaths from other causes (986 controls), and the hardness levels of the drinking water used by these residents were determined. Data on water hardness throughout Taiwan were collected from Taiwan Water Supply Corporation (TWSC). The control group consisted of people who died from other causes and the controls were pair matched to the cases by , ear of birth, and year of death. The results show a significant negative relationship between drinking water hardness and rectal cancer mortality. Odds ratio and 95% confidence intervals were 1.24 (1.01-1. 55) and 1.38 (1.10-1.73), respectively, for exposure to moderately hard water and soft water compared with the use of hard water. Trend analyses showed an increasing odds ratio for rectal cancer with decreasing levels of hardness in drinking water. This is an important finding for the Taiwan water industry and human health.
TITLE: Pancreatic cancer mortality and total hardness levels in Taiwan's drinking water.
AUTHORS: Yang CY; Chiu HF; Cheng MF; Tsai SS; Hung CF; Tseng YT
SOURCE: J Toxicol Environ Health 1999 Mar 12;56(5):361-9
ABSTRACT: The possible association between the risk of pancreatic cancer mortality and hardness levels in drinking water from municipal supplies was investigated in a matched case-control study in Taiwan. All eligible pancreatic cancer deaths (883 cases) of Taiwan residents from 1990 through 1994 were compared with deaths from other causes (883 controls), and the hardness levels of the drinking water used by these residents were determined. Data on water hardness throughout Taiwan was collected from Taiwan Water Supply Corporation (TWSC). The control group consisted of people who died from other causes and were pair matched to the cancer cases by , ear of birth, and year of death. The results show that there is a 39 % excess risk of mortality from pancreatic cancer in relation to the use of soft water. Trend analyses showed an increasing odds ratio for pancreatic cancer with decreasing levels of hardness in drinking water. This is an important finding for the Taiwan water industry and human health.
TITLE: Colon cancer mortality and total hardness levels in Taiwan's drinking water.
AUTHORS: Yang CY; Hung CF
SOURCE: Arch Environ Contam Toxicol 1998 Jul;35(1):148-51
ABSTRACT: The possible association between the risk of colon cancer and hardness levels in drinking water from municipal supplies was investigated in a matched case-control study in Taiwan. All eligible colon cancer deaths (1,714 cases) of Taiwan residents from 1989 through 1993 were compared with deaths from other causes (1,714 controls) and the hardness levels of the drinking water used by these residents were determined. Data on water hardness throughout Taiwan have been collected from Taiwan Water Supply Corporation (TWSC). The control group consisted of people who died from other causes and the controls were pair matched to the cases by , ear of birth, and year of death. The results show a significant negative relationship between drinking water hardness and colon cancer mortality. Odds ratio and 95% confidence intervals were 1.22 (1.04-1. 43) and 1.46 (1.22-1.75), respectively, for exposure to moderately hard water and soft water compared with the use of hard water. Trend analyses showed an increasing odds ratio for colon cancer with decreasing levels of hardness in drinking water. This is an important finding for the Taiwan water industry and human health
