Abstract
Global trends focus on a balanced intake of foods and beverages to maintain health. Drinking water (MIU; hardness = 88) produced from deep sea water (DSW) collected offshore of Muroto, Japan, is considered healthy. We previously reported that the DSW-based drinking water (RDSW; hardness = 1000) improved human gut health. The aim of this randomized double-blind controlled trial was to assess the effects of MIU on human health. Volunteers were assigned to MIU (n = 41) or mineral water (control) groups (n = 41). Participants consumed 1 L of either water type daily for 12 weeks. A self-administered questionnaire was administered, and stool and urine samples were collected throughout the intervention. We measured the fecal biomarkers of nine short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) and secretory immunoglobulin A (sIgA), as well as urinary isoflavones. In the MIU group, concentrations of three major SCFAs and sIgA increased postintervention. MIU intake significantly affected one SCFA (butyric acid). The metabolic efficiency of daidzein-to-equol conversion was significantly higher in the MIU group than in the control group throughout the intervention. MIU intake reflected the intestinal environment through increased production of three major SCFAs and sIgA, and accelerated daidzein-to-equol metabolic conversion, suggesting the beneficial health effects of MIU.
Highlights
The utilization of deep sea water (DSW) has expanded to the energy, agriculture, food, cosmetics, and public health fields [1]
A recent clinical trial reported that drinking reported that the DSW-based drinking water (RDSW) improved human health due to the increased production of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) in the intestinal environment and urinary isoflavones [12]
In the postintervention period, the secretory immunoglobulin A (sIgA) concentration increased in the MIU group and decreased in the control group compared with the concentrations in preintervention period
Summary
The utilization of deep sea water (DSW) has expanded to the energy, agriculture, food, cosmetics, and public health fields [1]. Bottled commercial DSW-based drinking water produced by different methods such as desalinization, is currently available on the market; this commercial product is gaining popularity due to its potential benefits to human health, as confirmed by various animal studies [3,4,5,6]. Previous clinical trials using DSW-based drinking water have confirmed that DSWbased drinking water (RDSW; hardness, 1000 mg/L of Ca/Mg) has various beneficial effects on human health, for example with regard to hemorheology, allergies, immunology, infectious diseases (e.g., anti-Helicobacter pylori activity), and the intestinal environment [7,8,9,10,11,12]. A recent clinical trial reported that drinking RDSW improved human health due to the increased production of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) in the intestinal environment and urinary isoflavones [12]
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