Effects of sulphur-containing mineral water intake on oxidative status and markers for inflammation in healthy subjects

A Whiff of Sulfur: One Wind a Day Keeps the Doctor Away

Reactive Sulfur Species (RSS), such as allicin from garlic or sulforaphane from broccoli, are fre-quently associated with biological activities and possible health benefits in animals and humans. Among these Organic Sulfur Compounds (OSCs) found in many plants and fungi, the Volatile Sulfur Compounds (VSCs) feature prominently, not only because of their often-pungent smell, but also because they are able to access places which solids and solutions cannot reach that easily. Indeed, inorganic RSS such as hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) and sulfur dioxide (SO₂) can be used to lit-erally fumigate entire rooms and areas. Similarly, metabolites of garlic, such as allyl methyl sulfide (AMS), are formed metabolically in humans in lower concentrations and reach the airways from inside the body as part of one’s breath. Curiously, H₂S is also formed in the gastrointestinal tract by gut bacteria, and the question of if and for which purpose this gas then crosses the barriers and enters the body is indeed a delicate matter for equally delicate studies. In any case, nature is surprisingly rich in such VSCs, as fruits (for instance, the infamous durian) demonstrate, and therefore these VSCs represent a promising group of compounds for further studies.

Effect of hydrogen sulphide containing mineral water on experimental osteoporosis in rats

Background/Aim: Sulphur mineral water is widely used in the treatment of musculoskeletal diseases. Hydrogen sulphide is an important regulator of bone metabolism and its application in the treatment of osteoporosis is intensively researched. The aim of this study was to analyse biochemical and histological effects of H2S containing mineral water of "Mlječanica" spring on ovariectomy-induced experimental osteoporosis in rats. Methods: In this experiment a 14-week-old Wistar female rats were used. The animals undergone bilateral ovariectomy (OVX groups) as an experimental model for oestrogen-deficient osteoporosis. After six weeks, animals were divided into control and the experimental group. Rats from the experimental group treated with H2S (SW group) containing mineral water ad libitum during five weeks. Biochemical parameters for monitoring sulphur water effects were concentration in serum of osteocalcin, alkaline phosphatase, calcium and phosphorus. Histological analyses of the left tibia coloured with haematoxylin-eosin were carried out. Results: Regarding the biochemical parameters, a statistically significant increase was observed in the OVX group for osteocalcin, alkaline phosphatase calcium and phosphorus compared to the sham-operated (CNT) group (p < 0.01). In SW + OVX, alkaline phosphatase was statistically significantly decreased (p < 0.01) and serum osteocalcin and phosphorus increased (p < 0.01). Calcium values were increased without significance. In the OVX + SW group, histological analyses showed numerous osteoblasts along the trabecular endosteum and the growth of young chondrocytes in the central bone zone and their migration to the peripheral parts. Conclusion: Drinking the H2S containing "Mlječanica" mineral water has led to decreased alkaline phosphatase, increased osteocalcin and phosphorus concentration in serum and stimulated the bone reparation in osteoporotic rats.

Development of Alkaline Reduced Water Using High-Temperature-Roasted Mineral Salt and Its Antioxidative Effect in RAW 264.7 Murine Macrophage Cell Line

Oxidative stress (OS) plays an important role in many diseases, and its excessive increase affects human health. Although the antioxidant effect of sea salt can be strengthened through special processing, it is scarcely studied. This study confirmed the antioxidative effect of high-temperature roasted mineral salt (HtRMS) produced through repeated roasting of sea salt at high temperature in a ceramic vessel. The dissolved HtRMS exhibited properties such as high alkalinity, rich mineral content, and a high concentration of hydrogen (H2). To detect the antioxidative effect of HtRMS, OS was induced in RAW 264.7 murine macrophage cells with hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and lipopolysaccharide (LPS), and then treated with HtRMS solution at different concentrations (0.1, 1, and 10%). Cell viability, reactive oxygen species (ROS), nitric oxide (NO), and antioxidant enzymes such as catalase (CAT) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx), Ca2+, and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway-related proteins (p-p38, p-JNK, and p-ERK) were measured. OS was significantly induced by treatment with H2O2 and LPS (p < 0.001). After treatment with HtRMS, cell viability and GPx activities significantly increased and ROS, NO, Ca2+, and CAT significantly decreased in a concentration-dependent manner compared to H2O2 and LPS-only groups, which was not observed in tap water (TW)-treated groups. Similarly, p-p38, p-JNK, and p-ERK levels significantly decreased in a concentration-dependent manner in HtRMS groups compared to both H2O2 and LPS-only groups; however, those in TW groups did not exhibit significant differences compared to H2O2 and LPS-only groups. In conclusion, our results suggest that HtRMS may have antioxidant potential by regulating the MAPK signaling pathway.