Natural Mineral Waters and Metabolic Syndrome: Insights From Obese Male and Female C57BL/6 Mice on Caloric Restriction

Abstract

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) represents one of the greatest challenges to public health given its serious consequences on cardiovascular diseases and type 2 diabetes. A carbohydrate-restricted, low-fat diet is the current therapy for MetS. Natural mineral waters (NMWs) are known to exert beneficial effects on human health. Our primary objective was to shed light on the potential therapeutic properties of NMWs in MetS. A total of 125 C57BL/6 male and female mice were included in the study. Of these, 10 were left untreated. They were fed a standard diet with tap water throughout the study period, and stayed healthy. The remaining 115 mice were initially fed a high-calorie diet (HCD) consisting of a high-fat feed (60% of energy from fat) with 10% fructose in tap water, served ad libitum over a period of 4 months to induce MetS (the MetS induction phase). Mice were then randomly divided into six treatment groups and a control group, all of which received a low-calorie diet (LCD), but with a different kind of drinking water, for 2 months (the treatment phase). Five groups were each treated with a different kind of NMW, one group by alternating the five NMWs, and one group – the control group – was given tap water. Body weight and blood biochemistry were monitored over the 6-month trial. After 4 months, male and female mice on HCD developed obesity, hypercholesterolaemia and hyperglycaemia, although gains in body weight, total cholesterol, and blood glucose in males were greater than those observed in females (P < 0.0001). When combined with an LCD, the NMWs rich in sulphate, magnesium and bicarbonate, and the minimally mineralised one were the most effective in reducing the blood levels of total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, and glucose. Sex differences emerged during both the MetS induction phase and the treatment phase. These results suggest that NMWs rich in specific macronutrients, such as bicarbonate, sulphate and magnesium, and minimally mineralised water, in combination with an LCD, may contribute to controlling blood lipid and glucose levels in subjects with MetS. Further studies are needed to confirm these results and to extend them to humans.

Enhanced silver nanoparticle-induced pulmonary inflammation in a metabolic syndrome mouse model and resolvin D1 treatment

“…Males were included to allow for comparisons to previous studies establishing dysregulation of SPMs 24 h following AgNP exposure. Additionally, male mice demonstrate a greater differential in terms of disease (weight gain and dyslipidemia) compared to females on the HFW diet making them the initial model to use to investigate disease and lipid signaling [30,79,80]. Subsets of mice were exposed to either 50 µl of water (control) or 50 µg of 20 nm AgNP via oropharyngeal aspiration (50 µL of stock AgNPs a concentration of 1 mg/mL in water).…”

Long-Term Consumption of Purified Water Altered Amino Acid, Fatty Acid and Energy Metabolism in Livers of Rats

“…Animal studies also proved that the consumption of low mineral water leads to a higher risk of cardiovascular disease [16] and impaired bone quality [18]. Meanwhile, the consumption of natural mineral water may contribute to controlling blood lipid and glucose levels [19], improving glycemic control [20], and maintaining bone health in young rats with metabolic acidosis [21].…”

Natural Mineral Water and Diuresis: A Systematic Review

“…In addition, more recently, other possible positive effects for human health determined as being caused by natural mineral waters have been evaluated. For example, a study was performed to evaluate the potential therapeutic properties of mineral water in metabolic syndrome and the results suggested that water minimally mineralized and those rich in specific macronutrients (bicarbonate, sulphate and magnesium), in combination with a low-calorie diet, may contribute to control glucose levels and blood lipid in subjects affected by metabolic syndrome [ 13 ]. Another study carried out to investigate the possible role of mineral water in intestinal inflammation verified that calcium and magnesium sulphate, sodium chloride, carbonic, and ferruginous water or bicarbonate one present positive effects on intestinal inflammation and the mucosa-associated microbiota [ 14 ].…”