Alkaline Water During Pregnancy Changes Breast Milk Minerals
- Authors
- Toshi Watanabe, Hiroshi Kamata, Youichi Fukuda, Eiji Murasugi, Tsuneo Sato, Kazuhiro Uwatoko, In-Jen Pan
- Journal
- The Journal of Toxicological Sciences
- Year
- 2001
- DOI
- 10.2131/jts.25.5_417
- Study Type
- Rat
- Outcome
- Positive
- Peer Reviewed
- Yes
- Country
- Japan
- Health Condition
- Pregnancy Complications
- Body System
- Cardiovascular
TL;DR
Drinking alkaline ionized water (AKW) during pregnancy and lactation led to heavier baby rats and heart muscle damage, possibly due to higher calcium levels in the mother's milk.
Key Finding
Alkaline ionized water increased calcium, sodium, and potassium levels in maternal rat milk, which accelerated offspring growth but was associated with heart muscle damage later in development.
Summary
Researchers gave pregnant and nursing rats either alkaline ionized water (water treated to increase mineral content and pH) or regular tap water. They measured the mineral levels in the mothers' milk and found that milk from rats drinking alkaline ionized water contained significantly higher amounts of calcium, sodium, and potassium. Baby rats nursing from mothers who drank alkaline ionized water grew faster, but later developed heart muscle damage by 15 weeks of age.
Practical Takeaway
This is an animal study in rats, so results may not apply to humans. The findings suggest that while alkaline ionized water may increase certain minerals in milk, excessive mineral enrichment could potentially cause harm—but human studies would be needed to determine if this applies to people. Anyone considering alkaline ionized water during pregnancy or nursing should consult a healthcare provider.
Abstract
We previously reported that body weight on day 14 after birth in male offspring of rats given alkaline ionized water (AKW) was significantly heavier than that in offspring of rats given tap water (TPW), but no significant difference was noted in milk yield and in suckled milk volume between the two groups. Additionally, the offspring in the AKW group and TPW group were given AKW and TPW, respectively, at weaning, and unexpectedly, the necrotic foci in the cardiac muscle were observed at the 15-week-old age in the AKW group, but not in the TPW group. The present study was designed to clarify the factors which are involved in that unusual increase of body weight and occurrence of cardiac necrosis. Eight dams in each group were given AKW or TPW (control) from day 0 of gestation to day 14 of lactation. The milk samples were collected on day 14 of lactation and analyzed for concentrations of calcium (Ca), sodium (Na), potassium (K), magnesium (Mg) and chloride (Cl). The AKW and TPW were also analyzed. Ca, Na and K levels in milk were significantly higher in the AKW group compared to the TPW group. No significant difference was noted in the Mg and Cl levels between the two groups. These data suggested that the Ca cation of AKW enriched the Ca concentration of the milk and accelerated the postnatal growth of the offspring of rats given AKW.