Increased bile acid excretion and reduction of serum cholesterol after crenotherapy with salt-rich mineral water.
The effect of a spring mineral water from Montecatini (Italy) on bile acid excretion, and lipid and apolipoprotein serum levels was evaluated. The study was conducted in subjects with serum total cholesterol (TC) level > 240 mg/dL and LDL cholesterol (LDL-C) > 170 mg/dL, over a 9-week period, with 3 weeks of dietary stabilization, 3 weeks of active treatment, and 3 weeks of tap-water treatment as a control period. Serum lipids and apolipoproteins, total and fractionated bile acid excretion, gallbladder motility, and safety parameters were evaluated. Active treatment with mineral water significantly reduced serum TC by 7.5%, LDL-C by 12.5%, TC/HDL-cholesterol ratio by 6.3%, and apolipoprotein B by 6.3%; total fecal bile acid excretion was increased by 98.9%, and gallbladder volume was reduced by 40%. The reduction in serum and LDL-cholesterol levels observed during the active treatment period ran parallel to the increased excretion of bile acids in the stools. We suggest that salt-rich spring water treatment reduces serum and LDL-cholesterol levels in subjects with mild hypercholesterolemia through a mechanism of increased excretion of fecal bile acid sterols.
Capurso
A
A
Department of Geriatrics, University of Bari, Italy. a.capurso@geriatria.uniba.it
Solfrizzi
V
V
Panza
F
F
Mastroianni
F
F
Torres
F
F
Del Parigi
A
A
Colacicco
A M
AM
Capurso
C
C
Nicoletti
G
G
Veneziani
B
B
Cellamare
S
S
Scalabrino
A
A
D000368:Aged; D001647:Bile Acids and Salts / Q000378:metabolism*; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood*; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D005243:Feces / Q000737:chemistry; D005260:Female; D005704:Gallbladder / Q000187:drug effects; D005769:Gastrointestinal Motility / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008900:Mineral Waters / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D001647:Bile Acids and Salts; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D008900:Mineral Waters; D002784:Cholesterol