title: Effect of a natural mineral-rich water on catechol-O-methyltransferase function.
abstract: Catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) is a magnesium-dependent, catecholamine-metabolizing enzyme, whose impaired activity has been positively associated with cardiovascular diseases, particularly hypertension. Consumption of some natural mineral-rich waters has been shown to exert protective effects on cardiovascular risk factors, eg. by decreasing arterial blood pressure and blood lipids. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying these effects are still poorly understood. So, the aim of this work was to investigate the effect of natural mineral-rich water ingestion upon liver and adrenal glands COMT expression and activity in Wistar Han rats. Over a seven-week period, animals had access to one of the following three drinking solutions: 1) tap water (control group; TW), 2) tap water with added Na(+) (to make the same concentration as in the MW group (TWNaCl group), or 3) natural mineral-rich water [Pedras Salgadas(®), which is very rich in bicarbonate, and with higher sodium, calcium and magnesium content than control tap water (MW group)]. COMT expression and activity were determined by RT-PCR and HPLC-ED, respectively. A higher hepatic COMT activity was found in the MW group compared with the TW and TWNaCl groups. On the other hand, adrenal gland COMT mRNA expression decreased in the MW group compared to TW group. In conclusion, the ability of natural mineral-rich waters to increase hepatic COMT activity may eventually explain the positive cardiovascular effects associated with the consumption of some natural mineral-rich waters.
authors.affiliation: Molecular Biology Center, Blood Bank and Transfusion Department, S. João Hospital, 4200-319 Porto, Portugal, Department of Biochemistry (U38/FCT), Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, 4200-319 Porto, Portugal.
authors.forename: Pedro
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bastos
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry (U38/FCT), Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, 4200-319 Porto, Portugal.
authors.forename: João Ricardo
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Araújo
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry (U38/FCT), Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, 4200-319 Porto, Portugal.
authors.forename: Isabel
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Azevedo
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry (U38/FCT), Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, 4200-319 Porto, Portugal.
authors.forename: Maria João
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Martins
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry (U38/FCT), Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, 4200-319 Porto, Portugal, Department of Education and Medical Simulation, Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, 4200-319 Porto, Portugal.
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ribeiro
mesh_terms: D015102:3,4-Dihydroxyphenylacetic Acid / Q000378:metabolism; D000311:Adrenal Glands / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology*; D000818:Animals; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control; D002394:Catechol O-Methyltransferase / Q000032:analysis* / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D002395:Catecholamines / Q000097:blood; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D004326:Drinking; D004790:Enzyme Induction / Q000187:drug effects; D004837:Epinephrine / Q000378:metabolism; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology*; D008297:Male; D008900:Mineral Waters / Q000032:analysis; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000517:prevention & control; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012965:Sodium Chloride / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014867:Water / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D002395:Catecholamines; D008900:Mineral Waters; D014867:Water; D015102:3,4-Dihydroxyphenylacetic Acid; D012965:Sodium Chloride; D002394:Catechol O-Methyltransferase; D004837:Epinephrine
keywords: cardiovascular health; catechol-O-methyltransferase; magnesium; natural mineral-rich water