Physiological Effects of Alkaline Ionized Water
by Takashi Hayakawa, Chicko Tushiya, Hisanori Onoda, Hisayo Ohkouchi, Harul-~to Tsuge (Gifu University, Faculty of Engineering, Dept. of Food Science)
We have found that long-term ingestion of alkaline ionized water (AIW) reduces
cecal fermentation in rats that were given highly fermentable commercial
diet (MF: Oriental Yeast Co., Ltd.). In this experiment, rats were fed MF
and test water (tap water, AIW with pH at 9 and 10) for about 3 months.
Feces were collected on the 57th day, and the rats were dissected on the
88th day. The amount of ammonium in fresh feces and cecal contents as well
as fecal free-glucose tended to drop down for the AIW group. In most cases,
the amount of free-amino acids in cecal contents did not differ sign- icantly
except for cysteine (decreased in AIW with pH at 10) and isoleucine (increased
in AIW with pH at 10).
Purpose of tests
Alkaline ionized water electrolyzers have been approved for manufacturing
in 1965 by the Ministry of Health and Welfare as medical equipment to produce
medical substances. Alkaline ionized water (AIW) produced by this equipment
is known to be effective against gastrointestinal fermentation, chronic
diarrhea, indigestion and hyperchylia as well as for controlling gastric
acid.*1 This is mainly based on efficacy of the official calcium hydroxide.
*2 By giving AIW to rats for a comparatively long time under the condition
of extremely high level of intestinal fermentation, we have demonstrated
that AIW intake is effective for inhibition of intestinal fermentation when
its level is high based on some test results where AIW worked against cecal
hypertrophy and for reduction in the amount of short-chain fatty acid that
is the main product of fermentation.*3 We have reported that this is caused
by the synergy between calcium level generally contained in AIW (about 50ppm)
and the value of pH, and that frequency of detecting some anaerobic bacteria
tends to be higher in alkaline ionized water groups than the other, although
the bacteria count in the intestine does not have significant difference.
Based on these results, we made a judgment that effect of taking AIW supports
part of inhibition mechanism against abnormal intestinal fermentation, which
is one of the claims of efficacy that have been attributed to alkaline ionized
water electrolyzers. *4 On the other hand, under the dietary condition of
low intestinal fermentation, AIW uptake does not seem to inhibit fermentation
that leads us to believe that effect of AIW uptake is characteristic of
hyper-fermentation state. Metabolites produced by intestinal fermentation
include indole and skatole in addition to organic acids such as short-chain
fatty acid and lactic acid as well as toxic metabolites such as ammonium,
phenol and pcresol. We do not know how AIW uptake would affect the production
of these materials. In this experiment, we have tested on ammonium production
as explained in the following sections.
Testing methods
Four-week-old male Wistar/ST Clean rats were purchased from Japan SLC Co.,
Ltd. and were divided into 3 groups of 8 each after preliminary breeding.
AIW of pH 9 and 10 was produced by an electrolyzer Mineone ROYAL NDX3 1
OH by Omco Co., Ltd. This model produces AIW by electrolyzing water with
calcium lactate added. On the last day of testing, the rats were dissected
under Nembutal anesthesia to take blood from the heart by a heparin-treated
syringe. As to their organs, the small intestines, cecum and colon plus
rectum were taken out from each of them. The cecurn was weighed and cleaned
with physiological saline after its contents were removed, and the tissue
weight was measured after wiping out moisture. Part of cecal contents was
measured its pH, and the rest was used to assay ammonium concentration.
The amount of ammonium contained in fresh feces and cecal contents was measured
by the Nessler method after collecting it in the extracted samples using
Conway's micro-diffusion container. Fecal free-glucose was assayed by the
oxygen method after extraction by hot water. Analysis of free amino acids
contained in cecal contents was conducted by the Waters PicoTag amino acid
analysis system.
Test results and analyses
No difference was found in the rats' weight gain, water and feed intake
and feeding efficiency, nor was any particular distinction in appearance
identified. The length of the small intestines and colon plus rectum tended
to decline in AIW groups. PH value of cecal contents was higher and the
amount of fecal free-glucose tended to be lower in AIW groups than the control
group. Since there was no difference in fecal discharge itself, the amount
of free-glucose discharged per day was at a low level. The amount of discharged
free-glucose in feces is greater when intestinal fermentation is more intensive,
which indicates that intestinal fermentation is more inhibited in AIW groups
than the control group. Ammonium concentration in cecal contents tends to
drop down in AIW groups (Fig. 1). This trend was most distinctive in case
of fresh feces of one of AIW groups with pH 10 (Fig.2) AIW uptake was found
to be inhibitory against ammonium production. In order to study dynamics
of amino acids in large intestines, we examined free amino acids in the
cecal contents to find out that cysteine level is low in AIW groups whereas
isoleucine level is high in one of AIW groups with pH 10, although no significant
difference was identified for other amino acids.
Bibliography
1. "Verification of Alkaline Ionized Water" by Life Water Institute,
Metamor Publishing Co., 1994, p.46
2. "Official Pharmaceutical Guidelines of Japan, Vol. IT' by Japan
Public Documents Association, Hirokawa PublIshin Co., 1996
3. "Science and Technology of Functional Water" (part) by Takashi
Hayakawa, Haruffito Tsuge, edited by Water Scienll cc Institute, 1999, pp.109-116
4. 'Tasics and Effective Use of Alkaline Ionized Water" by Takashi
Hayakawa, Haruhito Tsuge, edited by Tetsuji Hc kudou, 25th General Assembly
of Japan Medical Congress 'Tunctional Water in Medical Treatment",
Administratio~ Offices, 1999, pp. 10- 11
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