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Biology and the properties of water

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Water consumption and disease prevention

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Dr Pierre Meunier and colleagues have completed a clinical trial on 152 post-menopausal women with a history of low dietary calcium intake. The researchers found that the daily consumption for six months of 1 liter of water containing a high calcium concentration (calcium ions approximately 600 mg per liter) decreased serum parathyroid hormone concentrations and other biochemical markers of bone catabolism relative to the consumption of a low calcium placebo water (calcium ions approximately 10 mg per liter). The statistical significance of the decrease for each parameter was: serum parathyroid hormone (p = 0.01), serum osteocalcin (p = 0.0001 ), serum bone alkaline phosphatase (p = 0.0002 ) and serum type-1 collagen cross-linked C-telopeptide (p = 0.0003). The water consumed in the trial contained a high concentration of sulfate (sulfate ions approximately 1500 mg per liter). Some magnesium ions were present also (magnesium ions approximately 77 mg per liter).

It is interesting that Dr Meunier and colleagues identified that the daily consumption of a placebo water, containing a low calcium concentration of 10 mg per liter, resulted after six months in increased serum parathyroid hormone concentrations and increased concentrations of other biochemical markers of bone catabolism (serum osteocalcin, serum bone alkaline phosphatase and serum type-1 collagen cross-linked C-telopeptide). These results pre-empt the results of a clinical trial described elsewhere on this website where the consumption of water containing a low calcium concentration of less than 1 mg per liter resulted in significant increases in serum parathyroid hormone concentrations after 12 weeks.

It appears from Dr Meunier’s clinical trial that high concentrations of calcium in drinking water are able to prevent bone loss and to decrease parathyroid hormone concentrations. However, it has been shown that bicarbonate concentrations in drinking water may play a role also. Studies completed by the noted endocrinologist, Professor Peter Burckhardt, have demonstrated that the consumption of water with high concentrations of calcium and bicarbonate exert an inhibitory effect on biochemical bone resorption parameters and decrease the concentration of parathyroid hormone. Professor Burckhardt has shown that the effects of the consumption of waters with high calcium and bicarbonate concentrations exceed the effects of waters high in calcium (calcium sulfate) but low in bicarbonates(1). The articles below give overviews of bicarbonate in drinking water and resultant decreases in bone resorption parameters and parathyroid hormone concentrations.

Paper in The Journal of Nutrition:

http://jn.nutrition.org/content/138/2/435S.full

Abstract in Bone:

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18926940

Similar results in relation to the consumption of bicarbonate and decreased bone resorption parameters and decreased parathyroid hormone concentrations have been found in other studies. In one study, high concentrations of calcium and bicarbonate in drinking water decreased bone resorption parameters and parathyroid hormone concentrations while high concentrations of calcium and sulfate in drinking water had no significant effect(2). The authors concluded that bicarbonate rich water has a beneficial effect on bone metabolism. Indeed, in nutritional studies, bicarbonates per se have been shown to improve calcium balance and decrease bone resorption(3,4).

In 2009, the British Journal of Nutrition published a scientific paper which examined 150 European waters, 20 Canadian waters and 20 USA waters and issued guidelines for selecting optimal bicarbonate and calcium waters for bone health.

Paper in the British Journal of Nutrition:

http://journals.cambridge.org/action/displayAbstract?fromPage=online&aid=5465564

It is becoming increasingly clear that the consumption of extra drinking water that contains either calcium or magnesium ions, particularly calcium or magnesium bicarbonate, may be beneficial to health.

1. Burckhardt P. 2008.  The effect of the alkali load of mineral water on bone metabolism: interventional studies.  Journal of Nutrition 138: 435S-437S.

2. Roux S, et al. 2004.  Biological effects of drinking-water mineral composition on calcium balance and bone remodeling markers.  J Nutr Health Aging 8(5): 380-384.

3. Dawson-Hughes B, et al.  2009.  Treatment with potassium bicarbonate lowers calcium excretion and bone resorption in older men and women. The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism 94(1): 96-102.

4. Sebastian A, et al. 1994.  Improved mineral balance and skeletal metabolism in postmenopausal women treated with potassium bicarbonate. N Engl J Med 330(25): 1776-1781.

Comments from the Water Clinical Trials editors

Link to PubMed- Abstract of publication in Osteoporosis International

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/ 15744450

Link to Osteoporosis International - Journal article:  2005, 16(10):  1203-09

https://springerlink3.metapress.com/content/pd52c0g81bg33cwj/resource-secured/?target=fulltext.pdf&sid=x0d2vc55tk2qgiiddrvzyoyc&sh=www.sprin gerlink.com

Links to

publication

Clinical trials listed

Consumption of high calcium mineral water lowers biochemical indices of bone remodeling in postmenopausal women with low calcium intake

Meunier PJ, Jenvrin C, Munoz F, de la Gueronnière V, Garnero P, Menz M.

Osteoporos Int. 2005 Oct; 16(10):1203-9

Clinical trials listed