Ingestion of a natural mineral-rich water in an animal model of metabolic syndrome: effects in insulin signalling and endoplasmic reticulum stress

Natural Changbai mineral water reduces obesity risk through regulating metabolism and gut microbiome in a hyperuricemia male mouse model

Access to clean and safe drinking water is essential. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of a kind of small molecular natural mineral water, C-cell mineral water on hyperuricemia male mice metabolism condition. A 13-week drinking water intervention study was conducted in Uox-knockout mice (KO). The hepatic metabolite profiling and related genes expression were detected by UPLC-TOF-MS and transcriptomic, and the gut microbiota of KO mice was determined by metagenomics sequencing. Results showed that the body weight of mice fed with C-cell water was remarkably lower than that of control mice on D 77 and D 91. Hepatic metabolite profiling revealed a shift in the pathway of glycine, serine and threonine metabolism, pantothenate and CoA biosynthesis, and biosynthesis of cofactors in KO mice fed with C-cell mineral water. Increased energy metabolism levels were related to increased hepatic expression of genes responsible for coenzyme metabolism and lipid metabolism. Gut microbiota was characterized by increasing activity of beneficial bacteria Blautia, and reducing activity of pathobiont bacteria Parasutterella. These genera have been reported to be associated with obesity. Small molecular mineral-rich natural water ingestion regulates metabolism and gut microbiota, protecting against obesity induced by hyperuricemia through mediating a microbiota-liver axis.

Natural Mineral Waters and Metabolic Syndrome: Insights From Obese Male and Female C57BL/6 Mice on Caloric Restriction

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) represents one of the greatest challenges to public health given its serious consequences on cardiovascular diseases and type 2 diabetes. A carbohydrate-restricted, low-fat diet is the current therapy for MetS. Natural mineral waters (NMWs) are known to exert beneficial effects on human health. Our primary objective was to shed light on the potential therapeutic properties of NMWs in MetS. A total of 125 C57BL/6 male and female mice were included in the study. Of these, 10 were left untreated. They were fed a standard diet with tap water throughout the study period, and stayed healthy. The remaining 115 mice were initially fed a high-calorie diet (HCD) consisting of a high-fat feed (60% of energy from fat) with 10% fructose in tap water, served ad libitum over a period of 4 months to induce MetS (the MetS induction phase). Mice were then randomly divided into six treatment groups and a control group, all of which received a low-calorie diet (LCD), but with a different kind of drinking water, for 2 months (the treatment phase). Five groups were each treated with a different kind of NMW, one group by alternating the five NMWs, and one group – the control group – was given tap water. Body weight and blood biochemistry were monitored over the 6-month trial. After 4 months, male and female mice on HCD developed obesity, hypercholesterolaemia and hyperglycaemia, although gains in body weight, total cholesterol, and blood glucose in males were greater than those observed in females (P < 0.0001). When combined with an LCD, the NMWs rich in sulphate, magnesium and bicarbonate, and the minimally mineralised one were the most effective in reducing the blood levels of total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, and glucose. Sex differences emerged during both the MetS induction phase and the treatment phase. These results suggest that NMWs rich in specific macronutrients, such as bicarbonate, sulphate and magnesium, and minimally mineralised water, in combination with an LCD, may contribute to controlling blood lipid and glucose levels in subjects with MetS. Further studies are needed to confirm these results and to extend them to humans.

Endoplasmic reticulum stress as the basis of obesity and metabolic diseases: focus on adipose tissue, liver, and pancreas

Obesity challenges lipid and carbohydrate metabolism. The resulting glucolipotoxicity  causes endoplasmic reticulum (ER) dysfunction, provoking the accumulation of immature proteins, which triggers the unfolded protein reaction (UPR) as an attempt to reestablish ER homeostasis. When the three branches of UPR fail to correct the unfolded/misfolded proteins, ER stress happens. Excessive dietary saturated fatty acids or fructose exhibit the same impact on the ER stress, induced by excessive ectopic fat accumulation or rising blood glucose levels, and meta-inflammation. These metabolic abnormalities can alleviate through dietary interventions. Many pathways are disrupted in adipose tissue, liver, and pancreas during ER stress, compromising browning and thermogenesis, favoring hepatic lipogenesis, and impairing glucose-stimulated insulin secretion within pancreatic beta cells. As a result, ER stress takes part in obesity, hepatic steatosis, and diabetes pathogenesis, arising as a potential target to treat or even prevent metabolic diseases. The scientific community seeks strategies to alleviate ER stress by avoiding inflammation, apoptosis, lipogenesis suppression, and insulin sensitivity augmentation through pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions. This comprehensive review aimed to describe the contribution of excessive dietary fat or sugar to ER stress and the impact of this adverse cellular environment on adipose tissue, liver, and pancreas function.

Comparison of Therapeutic Efficacy of Spa Mud and Bath Applications in the Treatment of Experimentally Induced Psoriasis and Eczema in Rats

Psoriasis and eczema are most common diseses of human and seen some animals. In this research project, a total of 49 Albino rats, 25 of which were psoriasis and 24 of eczema, were used. The back of all the animals were shaved 3 cm x 2 cm in size, and were deepilated using a 50% barium sulfate solution and deepillation tape. Then, 5% imiquimod was applied to the area for 5-6 days in the rats in psoriasis group, whereas 2%, 4-dinitrochlorobenzene was performed 2 times per day for one week in eczema group animals along with 150 μg of mite extract (Dermatophagoides farinae). After diseases formation in both groups, animals were divided into control and study groups, and then treatment period was started. In the rats with psoriasis and eczema, clinical, hematological, blood biochemical and histopathological findings were determined. In the light of the data obtained; it was concluded that a 21-day spa treatment in rats with psoriasis and eczema was very successful and could be considered as an option in the treatment of these diseases or it would increase the success of the treatment when combinated with classical medical treatments.

Differential Modulation of Cancellous and Cortical Distal Femur by Fructose and Natural Mineral-Rich Water Consumption in Ovariectomized Female Sprague Dawley Rats

Bone mineral density (BMD) and microstructure depend on estrogens and diet. We assessed the impact of natural mineral-rich water ingestion on distal femur of fructose-fed estrogen-deficient female Sprague Dawley rats. Ovariectomized rats drank tap or mineral-rich waters, with or without 10%-fructose, for 10 weeks. A sham-operated group drinking tap water was included (n = 6/group). Cancellous and cortical bone compartments were analyzed by microcomputed tomography. Circulating bone metabolism markers were measured by enzyme immunoassay/enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay or multiplex bead assay. Ovariectomy significantly worsened cancellous but not cortical bone, significantly increased circulating degradation products from C-terminal telopeptides of type I collagen and receptor activator of nuclear factor-kappaB ligand (RANKL), and significantly decreased circulating osteoprotegerin and osteoprotegerin/RANKL ratio. In ovariectomized rats, in cancellous bone, significant water effect was observed for all microstructural properties, except for the degree of anisotropy, and BMD (neither a significant fructose effect nor a significant interaction between water and fructose ingestion effects were observed). In cortical bone, it was observed a significant (a) water effect for medullary volume and cortical endosteal perimeter; (b) fructose effect for cortical thickness, medullary volume, cross-sectional thickness and cortical endosteal and periosteal perimeters; and (c) interaction effect for mean eccentricity. In blood, significant fructose and interaction effects were found for osteoprotegerin (no significant water effect was seen). For the first time in ovariectomized rats, the positive modulation of cortical but not of cancellous bone by fructose ingestion and of both bone locations by natural mineral-rich water ingestion is described.

Metabolic Syndrome Features: Is There a Modulation Role by Mineral Water Consumption? A Review

Metabolic syndrome (MetSyn) promotes, among others, the development of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease and diabetes. Its prevalence increases with age, highlighting the relevance of promoting precocious MetSyn primary prevention and treatment with easy-to-implement lifestyle interventions. MetSyn features modulation through mineral water consumption was reviewed on Pubmed, Scopus and Google Scholar databases, using the following keywords: metabolic syndrome, hypertension, blood pressure (BP), cholesterol, triglycerides, apolipoprotein, chylomicron, very low-density lipoprotein, low-density lipoprotein, high-density lipoprotein (HDL), glucose, insulin, body weight, body mass index, waist circumference (WC), obesity and mineral(-rich) water. Twenty studies were selected: 12 evaluated BP, 13 assessed total-triglycerides and/or HDL-cholesterol, 10 analysed glucose and/or 3 measured WC. Mineral waters were tested in diverse protocols regarding type and composition of water, amount consumed, diet and type and duration of the study. Human and animal studies were performed in populations with different sizes and characteristics. Distinct sets of five studies showed beneficial effects upon BP, total-triglycerides, HDL-cholesterol and glucose. WC modulation was not reported. Minerals/elements and active ions/molecules present in mineral waters (and their pH) are crucial to counterbalance their inadequate intake and body status as well as metabolic dysfunction and increased diet-induced acid-load observed in MetSyn. Study characteristics and molecular/physiologic mechanisms that could explain the different effects observed are discussed. Further studies are warranted for determining the mechanisms involved in the putative protective action of mineral water consumption against MetSyn features.

Prevention and Therapy of Type 2 Diabetes-What Is the Potential of Daily Water Intake and Its Mineral Nutrients?

We aim to present an overview of the possible influence of drinking water in general and mineral water in particular in improving glycemic parameters in persons with or without type 2 diabetes. We performed a literature search that produced 15 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on this topic with mainly small sample sizes. We also discuss relevant observational and animal studies as well as the effects of important supplements in mineral water such as hydrogencarbonate and magnesium. There is low evidence for the positive effects of water or mineral water in improving glycemic parameters in diabetic and non-diabetic persons, and the results are heterogenous, making it difficult to reach an unequivocal conclusion. Meta-analyses of prospective cohort studies and other observational studies, studies with animal models and interventional studies using hydrogencarbonate and magnesium supplements suggest a probable positive effect of drinking water and mineral water in particular on glycemic parameters, supporting the positive results found in some of the RCTs, especially those substituting diet beverages or caloric beverages with water, or those using bicarbonate and magnesium-rich water. Regarding the high prevalence, the associated suffering and the resulting health expenditures of type 2 diabetes, it is imperative to conduct larger and more rigorous trials to answer the question whether drinking water or mineral water can improve glycemic parameters in diabetic and non-diabetic persons.