title: Beneficial effect of sulphate-bicarbonate-calcium water on gallstone risk and weight control.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  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.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  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.
authors.affiliation: Gastroenterology Division, Department of Clinical Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale dell' Universita' 37, Rome 00185, Italy. stefano.corradini@uniroma1.it
authors.forename: Stefano Ginanni
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Corradini
authors.forename: Flaminia
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ferri
authors.forename: Michela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mordenti
authors.forename: Luigi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Iuliano
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Siciliano
authors.forename: Maria Antonella
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Burza
authors.forename: Bruno
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Sordi
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Caciotti
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pacini
authors.forename: Edoardo
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Poli
authors.forename: Adriano De
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Santis
authors.forename: Aldo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Roda
authors.forename: Carolina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Colliva
authors.forename: Patrizia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Simoni
authors.forename: Adolfo Francesco
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Attili
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000517:prevention & control; D001639:Bicarbonates / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001647:Bile Acids and Salts / Q000097:blood; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects*; D002118:Calcium / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D003248:Constipation / Q000188:drug therapy; D004415:Dyspepsia / Q000188:drug therapy; D004435:Eating / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D005704:Gallbladder / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000187:drug effects; D042882:Gallstones / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D017698:Postmenopause; D012307:Risk Factors; D013431:Sulfates / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000097:blood; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D001639:Bicarbonates; D001647:Bile Acids and Salts; D013431:Sulfates; D014280:Triglycerides; D014867:Water; D014810:Vitamin E; D002784:Cholesterol; D002118:Calcium