title: Drinking deep-sea water restores mineral imbalance in atopic eczema/dermatitis syndrome.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The effect of drinking deep-sea water on hair minerals was studied in patients with atopic eczema/dermatitis syndrome (AEDS). Study of hair minerals revealed an imbalance of essential minerals and an increase in toxic minerals in AEDS patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  After drinking deep-sea water (Amami no Mizu) for 6 months in AEDS patients, hair minerals (essential minerals and toxic minerals), clinical evaluation of the skin symptoms were compared before drinking with after drinking.
  
  
  METHODS
  After obtaining informed consent, 33 patients (mean age 26 y, range 1-50 y, 13 male and 20 female subjects) with mild to moderate AEDS were enrolled.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After drinking deep-sea water, the levels of the essential mineral, potassium (K), were significantly decreased, while the levels of selenium (Se) increased. On the other hand, drinking deep-sea water significantly decreased the levels of the toxic minerals, mercury and lead. Moreover, after drinking deep-sea water, the skin symptoms were improved in 27 out of 33 patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results indicate that the mineral abnormalities/imbalance may be involved in the pathogenesis of AEDS, and that drinking deep-sea water may be useful in the treatment of AEDS.
authors: Ako Kasei Co., Ltd., Ako-City, Hyogo, Japan. yhataguchi@ako-kasei.co.jp
authors: Y
authors: Y
authors: Hataguchi
authors: H
authors: H
authors: Tai
authors: H
authors: H
authors: Nakajima
authors: H
authors: H
authors: Kimata
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003876:Dermatitis, Atopic / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006197:Hair / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007854:Lead / Q000032:analysis; D008297:Male; D008628:Mercury / Q000032:analysis; D008875:Middle Aged; D008903:Minerals / Q000032:analysis* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011188:Potassium / Q000032:analysis; D012623:Seawater / Q000737:chemistry*; D012643:Selenium / Q000032:analysis; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D008903:Minerals; D007854:Lead; D008628:Mercury; D012643:Selenium; D011188:Potassium