Relevance of a Hypersaline Sodium-Rich Naturally Sparkling Mineral Water to the Protection against Metabolic Syndrome Induction in Fructose-Fed Sprague-Dawley Rats: A Biochemical, Metabolic, and Redox Approach

Cidália Dionísio Pereira,Rosário Monteiro,Isabel Azevedo,Rita Ferreira,Alejandro Santos,João Ricardo Araújo,António Ascensão,Diogo Pestana,Milton Severo,Maria João Martins,João Tiago Guimarães,José Magalhães

doi:10.1155/2014/384583

Abstract

The Metabolic Syndrome increases the risk for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease and type 2 Diabetes Mellitus. Increased fructose consumption and/or mineral deficiency have been associated with Metabolic Syndrome development. This study aimed to investigate the effects of 8 weeks consumption of a hypersaline sodium-rich naturally sparkling mineral water on 10% fructose-fed Sprague-Dawley rats (Metabolic Syndrome animal model). The ingestion of the mineral water (rich in sodium bicarbonate and with higher potassium, calcium, and magnesium content than the tap water used as control) reduced/prevented not only the fructose-induced increase of heart rate, plasma triacylglycerols, insulin and leptin levels, hepatic catalase activity, and organ weight to body weight ratios (for liver and both kidneys) but also the decrease of hepatic glutathione peroxidase activity and oxidized glutathione content. This mineral-rich water seems to have potential to prevent Metabolic Syndrome induction by fructose. We hypothesize that its regular intake in the context of modern diets, which have a general acidic character interfering with mineral homeostasis and are poor in micronutrients, namely potassium, calcium, and magnesium, could add surplus value and attenuate imbalances, thus contributing to metabolic and redox health and, consequently, decreasing the risk for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease.

Highlights

The Metabolic Syndrome (MS) consists of multiple and interrelated risk factors of metabolic origin that appear to directly promote the development of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease
There has been a substantial increase in fructose consumption, in the last decades, which has been associated with some adverse metabolic changes similar to those observed
Fluid ingestion showed significantly higher values for both fructosefed groups versus CONT group, without any significant difference between fructose in tap water (FRUCT) and FRUCTMIN (Figure 1(c)), which was in accordance with area under the curve (AUC) values (Supplementary Table 2)

Summary

Introduction

The Metabolic Syndrome (MS) consists of multiple and interrelated risk factors of metabolic origin that appear to directly promote the development of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. The exact etiology of the MS still remains unclear, it is known to involve complex interactions between genetic, metabolic, and environmental factors, where diet is of central importance [1,2,3]. Natural mineral waters are waters of underground origin, protected from contamination and microbiologically wholesome. They are characterized by their purity at source, content in minerals, trace elements, and other constituents as well as by favorable effects on human health [11]. Bioavailability of minerals from natural mineral waters is high [12,13,14]

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