Brief Article
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World J Gastroenterol. Mar 7, 2012; 18(9): 930-937
Published online Mar 7, 2012. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v18.i9.930
Beneficial effect of sulphate-bicarbonate-calcium water on gallstone risk and weight control
Stefano Ginanni Corradini, Flaminia Ferri, Michela Mordenti, Luigi Iuliano, Maria Siciliano, Maria Antonella Burza, Bruno Sordi, Barbara Caciotti, Maria Pacini, Edoardo Poli, Adriano De Santis, Aldo Roda, Carolina Colliva, Patrizia Simoni, Adolfo Francesco Attili
Stefano Ginanni Corradini, Flaminia Ferri, Michela Mordenti, Maria Siciliano, Maria Antonella Burza, Edoardo Poli, Adriano De Santis, Adolfo Francesco Attili, Gastroenterology Division, Department of Clinical Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale dell’ Universita’ 37, Rome 00185, Italy
Luigi Iuliano, Department of Medical Sciences and Biotechnology, Vascular Medicine and Atherothrombosis Laboratory, Sapienza University of Rome, Latina 04100, Italy
Bruno Sordi, Barbara Caciotti, Maria Pacini, Direzione Sanitaria Terme di Chianciano, Chianciano Terme Siena 53042, Italy
Aldo Roda, Carolina Colliva, Department of Pharmaceutical Science, Alma Mater-University of Bologna, Bologna 40126, Italy
Patrizia Simoni, Department of Clinical Medicine, Alma Mater-University of Bologna, Bologna 40138, Italy
Author contributions: Ginanni Corradini S, Attili AF and De Santis A designed research; Ginanni Corradini S, Ferri F, Mordenti M, Siciliano M, Burza MA, Sordi B, Caciotti B, Pacini M, Poli E and Iuliano L performed research; Roda A, Colliva C, Simoni P contributed analytic tools; Ginanni Corradini S, Ferri F, Mordenti M analyzed data and wrote the paper.
Supported by The Italian Thermal Scientific Research Foundation and the Italian Ministry of Instruction University and Research
Correspondence to: Stefano Ginanni Corradini, MD, PhD, Gastroenterology Division, Department of Clinical Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale dell’ Universita’ 37, Rome 00185, Italy. stefano.corradini@uniroma1.it
Telephone: +39-6-49972086 Fax: +39-6-4453319
Received: June 24, 2011
Revised: September 9, 2011
Accepted: December 31, 2011
Published online: March 7, 2012
Abstract

AIM: To investigate the effect of drinking sulphate-bicarbonate-calcium thermal water (TW) on risk factors for atherosclerosis and cholesterol gallstone disease.

METHODS: Postmenopausal women with functional dyspepsia and/or constipation underwent a 12 d cycle of thermal (n = 20) or tap (n = 20) water controlled drinking. Gallbladder fasting volume at ultrasound, blood vitamin E, oxysterols (7-β-hydroxycholesterol and 7-ketocholesterol), bile acid (BA), triglycerides, total/low density lipoprotein and high density lipoprotein cholesterol were measured at baseline and at the end of the study. Food consumption, stool frequency and body weight were recorded daily.

RESULTS: Blood lipids, oxysterols and vitamin E were not affected by either thermal or tap water consumption. Fasting gallbladder volume was significantly (P < 0.005) smaller at the end of the study than at baseline in the TW (15.7 ± 1.1 mL vs 20.1 ± 1.7 mL) but not in the tap water group (19.0 ± 1.4 mL vs 19.4 ± 1.5 mL). Total serum BA concentration was significantly (P < 0.05) higher at the end of the study than at baseline in the TW (5.83 ± 1.24 μmol vs 4.25 ± 1.00 μmol) but not in the tap water group (3.41 ± 0.46 μmol vs 2.91 ± 0.56 μmol). The increased BA concentration after TW consumption was mainly accounted for by glycochenodeoxycholic acid. The number of pasta (P < 0.001), meat (P < 0.001) and vegetable (P < 0.005) portions consumed during the study and of bowel movements per day (P < 0.05) were significantly higher in the TW than in the tap water group. Body weight did not change at the end of the study as compared to baseline in both groups.

CONCLUSION: Sulphate-bicarbonate-calcium water consumption has a positive effect on lithogenic risk and intestinal transit and allows maintenance of a stable body weight despite a high food intake.

Keywords: Thermal water; Gallstones; Oxidative stress; Body weight; Bile acid