Brief Article
Copyright ©2012 Baishideng Publishing Group Co.
World J Gastroenterol. Mar 7, 2012; 18(9): 930-937
Published online Mar 7, 2012. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v18.i9.930
Table 1 Chemical composition of the sulphate-bicarbonate-calcium thermal water and of the Rome tap water, as consumed by the thermal water and by the control group, respectively
Thermal water (TW)Tap water (CTRL)
pH6.87.5
Fixed residue at 180 °C (mg/L)3280390
Sulphate (mg/L)184015
Bicarbonate (mg/L)730-
Calcium (mg/L)84098
Magnesium (mg/L)18019
Sodium (mg/L)415.5
Chloride (mg/L)29.46.5
Potassium (mg/L)73
Fluoride (mg/L)20.2
Bromide (mg/L)0.2-
Carbon dioxide (cc/L)537-
Strontium (mg/L)0.1-
Iron (µg/L)0.85
Manganese (μg/L)-0.3
Nitrate (mg/L)-3.8
Table 2 Demographics and symptoms of the thermal water and the control group (n = 20)
TWCTRLP value
Age (yr)64.0 ± 1.461.2 ± 1.8NS
Weight (kg)64.4 ± 2.361.1 ± 1.5NS
Height (cm)161 ± 0.01160 ± 0.01NS
BMI (kg/m2)24.9 ± 0.924.0 ± 0.6NS
Diagnosis n (%)
Dyspepsia only12 (60)12 (60)NS
Constipation only6 (30)5 (25)NS
Constipation + dyspepsia2 (10)3 (15)NS
Table 3 Serum lipids and plasma markers of oxidative stress in the thermal water and in the control groups
TW
CTRL
BaselineEndBaselineEnd
Total cholesterol (mg/dL)178.7 ± 5.8182.4 ± 6.3181.5 ± 7.6177.4 ± 6.5
HDL cholesterol (mg/dL)62.3 ± 4.763.7 ± 4.756.7 ± 5.059.4 ± 6.1
LDL cholesterol (mg/dL)100.4 ± 8.0101.9 ± 8.7103.6 ± 8.593.9 ± 7.7
Triglycerides (mg/dL)79.9 ± 7.584.0 ± 10.2106.1 ± 11.4120.7 ± 17.9
7β-HC (ng/mL)51.4 ± 12.370.5 ± 15.157.0 ± 8.245.5 ± 8.9
7-KC (ng/mL)93.7 ± 32.5103.8 ± 29.138.6 ± 8.453.1 ± 25.9
7β-HC + 7-KC (ng/mL)145.1 ± 44.7174.3 ± 43.695.7 ± 16.298.6 ± 34.5
α-TCP (mg/dL)1.46 ± 0.11.43 ± 0.11.40 ± 0.11.43 ± 0.1
γ-TCP (mg/dL)0.74 ± 0.10.75 ± 0.10.67 ± 0.050.79 ± 0.1
α-TCP + γ-TCP (mg/dL)2.20 ± 0.12.18 ± 0.12.07 ± 0.12.22 ± 0.1
7β-HC + 7-KC/α-TCP + γ-TCP71.1 ± 22.665.7 ± 14.352.5 ± 9.254.1 ± 21.9
Table 4 Number of food portions consumed by the thermal water and by the control group subjects during the study period
TWControlP value
Pasta16.40 ± 1.228.80 ± 1.05< 0.001
Bread4.32 ± 1.408.90 ± 1.570.01
Pizza0.58 ± 0.231.01 ± 0.31NS
Sweets9.57 ± 1.877.08 ± 1.02NS
Soft drinks4.82 ± 1.404.30 ± 1.59NS
Fruits17.60 ± 1.6914.59 ± 2.24NS
Meat11.52 ± 1.005.90 ± 0.51< 0.001
Fish4.05 ± 0.753.20 ± 0.38NS
Milk6.00 ± 1.216.89 ± 0.87NS
Dairy products6.32 ± 1.234.04 ± 0.50NS
Legumes0.98 ± 0.360.84 ± 0.23NS
Vegetables22.80 ± 2.4013.51 ± 1.080.002
Coffee14.08 ± 2.3113.32 ± 2.41NS