Study on the effect of deep sea water on intestinal health

Global health trends are increasingly focusing on a balanced diet and fluid intake for a healthy life. Refined Deep Sea Water (RTSW), extracted from deep seawater off the coast of Muroto, Japan, is mineral-rich drinking water that has been shown in previous studies to have positive effects on gut health. This study from the International University of Health and Welfare Graduate School examines the specific effects of drinking RDSW on the gut microbiome.

It is a randomized, double-blind, controlled study with 98 healthy adults who were divided into two groups: One group consumed RTSW, the other mineral water as a control group. The participants drank 1 liter of their assigned water daily over a period of 12 weeks. Self-administered questionnaires and stool and urine samples were collected as part of the study.

The primary outcomes analyzed included fecal biomarkers such as secretory immunoglobulin A, five fecal products and nine short-chain fatty acids, while secondary outcomes included urinary isoflavone concentrations and questionnaire results. After the intervention, the RTSW group showed significantly increased concentrations of five SCFAs and decreased concentrations of phenol and sIgA. A multiple logistic analysis revealed that RTSW had a significant effect on two specific SCFAs, acetic acid and 3-methylbutanoic acid. In addition, urinary isoflavone concentrations tended to increase in the RTSW group after the intervention.

The RTSW group also experienced significant relief from constipation, with 94% of participants reporting an improvement, compared to 60% in the control group. Overall, drinking RTSW led to an improvement in the gut microbiome by increasing the concentrations of fecal SCFAs and isoflavones in the urine, leading to wide-ranging positive health effects .