lassesen 10:46 pm on April 9, 2016

Mineral water as treatment?

While researching this post, I found a 2015 study where the microbiome of healthy controls were significantly altered by consuming a liter of mineral water each day. This was unexpected, but in reflection totally reasonable. The minerals in the water would likely have significant impact on some bacteria.

“Additionally, microbiomeanalysis demonstrated that composition of lean-inducible bacteria was increased after bicarbonate-rich mineral water consumption. Our results suggested that consumption of BMW has the possible potential to prevent and/or improve type 2 diabetes through the alterations of host metabolism and gut microbiotacomposition.” [2015]

While I was shopping today, I tried some mineral water (Gerolsteiner from Germany) and found that my body responded strongly (feeling good/better) after 8 oz. I selected this brand at the co-op because it listed the contents, the level of bicarbonate was below that of the water used in the study, but it is at the top of the brands available in the US.

This post is for anyone else that is intrigued about the use of mineral water. Dosage is always important — in talking with people about the positive results of Vitamin B1, I found most people were taking lower dosages than the threshold to see results in the study that I cited (i.e. 1500 mg/day). Yes, “Vitamin B1 had no effect” because the dosage was too low (which the study reported too!). For mineral water, it is important to see how any supplier compare to the study cited above. For example, with Acquaua Panna, you would need to drink 18 liters of water a day!

If you have an Android phone, there is a sweet application available https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=de.gerolsteiner.meinwasser that provide over 500 waters.

The following is a report using the common mineral waters in the US, and an “electrolyte water” which many would believe is equivalent. They are not. Gerolsteiner looks by far to be the closest to the water used in the study.

	Study	Tap Water	Gerolsteiner	San Pellegrino	Perrier	Fiji	Acqua Panna	Smart Water
Bicarbonate	2485	28	1800	239	445	0	106	n/a
Chlorine ion	182	11	40	54	25	9	9	4
Sulfate ion	355	7	38	445	46	1	21	n/a
Magnesium	291	2	108	52	6	15	6	n/a
Sodium	412	10	118	33	11	18	6	0
Potassium	80	0	11	0	0	0	0	n/a
Calcium	177	6	348	179	155	18	32	n/a

“Among the natural mineral waters available on the market, only a few feature the optimum calcium-magnesium proportion (2:1).” [2016]

Mineral Supplements Help with CFS

I believe that minerals already dissolved in water is more easily absorbed than mineral supplements. Part of this is basic chemistry — stomach pH and volume of liquid determines how much gets dissolved and how fast. If the minerals are already in solution, then they can be readily absorbed with the water without any additional processing.

“This study is only the second study done on multivitamin mineral supplementation in CFS that used both biochemical and subjective markers of treatment success…Treatment with a vitamin and mineral supplement could be a safe and easy way to improve symptoms and quality of life in patients with CFS.”[2014]

Further Readings

anonymous 1:30 am on April 10, 2016

Ken, I believe you are on the right track with the intake/dosage being important in regards to minerals. My own healing journey has benefited the most from learning and restoring in two areas: minerals and microbes.

Thanks for the post, especially the data — I can see myself using that app for water choices to help me further diversify and increase my sources and intake levels of minerals.
Joe 8:27 am on April 10, 2016

Just wondering, is it really bicarbonate, responsible for the positive results, perhaps mineral water has no chloronation? I would expectb carbonate to become chloride, when mixing with stomach HCl
- Joe 8:29 am on April 10, 2016
  
  Also wondering of you believe in the whole ‘alkalizing foods’ fad
  - lassesen 3:10 pm on April 10, 2016
    
    I’m neutral. pH does impact bacteria growth, especially E.Coli which grows best at the normal temperature of the human body. HENCE, low E.coli could be attributed to pH and low body temperature reading seen in CFS.
    
    For CFS, I am very wary of any fad for healthy people. The apparent shift of bacteria is so significant that equivalent response is unlikely. I rather keep to studies on patients with CFS/ME/IBS/FM which I view as a cluster of similar gut shifts (with SNP/DNA being the candidate for differences of symptoms.
- anonymous 1:13 pm on April 10, 2016
  
  From my mineral knowledge I’ll speculate the most likely reason is due to higher amounts of the core minerals of magnesium, potassium, sodium, and calcium. Of those, magnesium and potassium I would think to be of most importance, but we need all four and everyone’s intake needs of each of he four are slightly different. These are in an ionic? form which means the body can absorb easier compared to say magnesium malate or glycinate where cleaving of the amino must occur to then absorb the mineral. But maybe ken is sufficient in those and the sulfur, and maybe it is something with the bicarbonate? I don’t know as much about bicarbonate myself. Hard to say for sure, but I would speculate on those four core minerals.
  - lassesen 3:05 pm on April 10, 2016
    
    All are valid questions — which is why I listed all of the major differences (10x higher than tap water).
    
    The why — is a matter of speculation, the authors speculated one way.
    
    The WHAT HAPPENS — is not a matter of speculation, hence the recommendation to get as close to the mineral water used as possible.
    
    With CFS types, many will not get only special mineral waters are likely effective, instead, they will buy any bottle saying mineral water regardless of content and then report “no change”
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