Functional Water Blocks Cancer Cell Inflammation Signals
- Authors
- Takahiro Gojoubori, Hirotaka Ota, Masafumi Kusunoki, Yukina Nishio, Kensuke Nishio, Satoko Iwasa, Yasuhide Kaneko, Masatake Asano
- Journal
- Journal of Receptors and Signal Transduction
- Year
- 2015
- DOI
- 10.3109/10799893.2015.1086883
- Study Type
- Cell Culture
- Outcome
- Positive
- Peer Reviewed
- Yes
- Country
- Japan
- Health Condition
- Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma
- Body System
- Immune System
TL;DR
Special water called "acid functional water" can block a specific part of the cell's defense system, reducing inflammation-related signals in certain mouth cancer cells.
Key Finding
Functional water inhibited inflammatory signaling in oral cancer cells by preventing p65 and p50 proteins from properly activating genes that produce IL-8, a protein that promotes inflammation.
Summary
This laboratory study examined how electrolytically generated functional water affects inflammation-related processes in oral cancer cells. Researchers found that the functional water reduced the production of a pro-inflammatory protein called IL-8 by preventing key cellular signaling molecules (p65 and p50) from activating genes that promote inflammation.
Practical Takeaway
This is early laboratory research in cancer cells only—not human studies. While the mechanism is interesting, it's far too preliminary to suggest functional water has anti-inflammatory or anti-cancer effects in people. Much more research, including human trials, would be needed before any health claims could be made.
Abstract (excerpt)
Background: Human β-defensin 2 (hBD2) gene expression is dependent on nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) activity. We have previously demonstrated that electrolytically generated acid functional water (FW) induces the expression of hBD2 in the human oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) cell line Ca9-22…