Alkaline Water Boosts Growth and Development in Pregnant Rats
- Authors
- Toshi Watanabe
- Journal
- The Journal of Toxicological Sciences
- Year
- 1995
- DOI
- 10.2131/jts.20.135
- Study Type
- Rat
- Outcome
- Positive
- Peer Reviewed
- Yes
- Country
- Japan
- Health Condition
- Pregnancy
- Body System
- Reproductive
TL;DR
Drinking alkaline ionized water sped up growth and development in baby rats and increased food and water consumption in mother rats.
Key Finding
Pregnant and nursing rats given alkaline ionized water showed increased food and water intake, while their offspring grew faster and reached developmental milestones earlier than control groups.
Summary
Researchers gave pregnant and nursing rats water that had been treated with electrolysis to make it alkaline (more basic on the pH scale). They found that mother rats drank more water and ate more food when given this treated water, and their babies grew faster and reached developmental milestones (like opening their eyes and growing hair) earlier than babies from untreated water. The babies also weighed more during nursing and after weaning.
Practical Takeaway
This is an animal study in rats only, so it cannot be directly applied to humans. While the results suggest alkaline ionized water may influence growth and development, much more research—including human studies—would be needed before any health claims could be made. The study does not clarify which components of the treated water caused these effects.
Abstract (excerpt)
Alkaline ionized water (AKW) produced by electrolysis was given to gestational and lactational rats, and its effect on dams, growth of fetuses and offsprings were investigated. The results showed that the intake of food and water in dams increased significantly when AKW was given from the latter…