Alkaline Water Helps Rats Lose Weight on High-Fat Diet
Effect of mineral-induced alkaline reduced water on sprague-dawley rats fed on high-fat diet
Research hubs: Metabolic Syndrome · Digestive System
- Evidence type
- Animal study (rat)
- Authors
- Dan Jin, Seung Kyu Park, Young Mi Lee, Yang Suk Yoon, Dong Heui Kim, Young Kim Deung, Kyu-Jae Lee
- Journal
- Journal of Experimental Biomedical Science
- Year
- 2006
- Study Type
- Rat
- Outcome
- Positive
- Peer Reviewed
- Yes
- Country
- South Korea
- Health Condition
- Obesity
- Body System
- Digestive
This research was done in animals. Results in animals often don't carry over to people.
TL;DR
Drinking water treated with minerals to make it alkaline and antioxidant-rich helped reduce weight gain and fat in rats on a high-fat diet.
Key Finding
Rats fed a high-fat diet and given mineral-induced alkaline-reduced water gained significantly less weight and had lower blood triglycerides and liver fat compared to control rats.
Summary
Researchers gave rats on a high-fat diet either regular water or mineral-induced alkaline-reduced water (water treated with alkaline earth metals to have a higher pH and lower oxidation-reduction potential). Rats drinking the alkaline-reduced water gained less weight, had lower blood triglycerides (a type of fat), and had less fat buildup in their livers compared to control rats. The researchers believe this effect may be related to how the water reduces harmful molecules called reactive oxygen species in the body.
Practical Takeaway
This is an animal study in rats, so results cannot be directly applied to humans. While the findings suggest alkaline-reduced water may help reduce weight gain and fat accumulation in the context of a high-fat diet, human clinical trials would be needed to determine if similar effects occur in people. The study duration and sample size were not reported, which limits the strength of these conclusions.
Abstract (excerpt)
Mineral-induced alkaline-reduced water (MRW) is generated by the chemical reaction of water with alkaline earth metals and characterized by high pH and low oxidation-reduction potential. As ROS are believed to have a role in the pathogenesis of obesity, we attempted to determine the effect of MRW…