The influence of oxygenated water on the immune status, liver enzymes, and the generation of oxygen radicals: a prospective, randomised, blinded clinical study

• Published in: Clinical nutrition (Edinburgh, Scotland) Vol. 24; no. 3; pp. 407 - 414
• Main Authors: Gruber, Rudolf, Axmann, S., Schoenberg, M.H.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier Ltd 01.06.2005; Elsevier
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Biological and medical sciences; Blood Chemical Analysis; CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes - drug effects; CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes - immunology; CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes - metabolism; Dehydroascorbic Acid - analogs & derivatives; Dehydroascorbic Acid - blood; Double-Blind Method; Female; Humans; Immune status; Immune System - drug effects; Immunophenotyping; Liver - drug effects; Liver - enzymology; Liver - immunology; Liver - metabolism; Male; Medical sciences; Metabolic diseases; Middle Aged; Mineral Waters; Oxygen - administration & dosage; Oxygen radicals; Oxygenated water; Prospective Studies; T-Lymphocyte Subsets - drug effects; T-Lymphocyte Subsets - immunology; T-Lymphocyte Subsets - metabolism; Oxygen radicals; CD; PWM; PHA; Immune status; Liver metabolism; Oxygenated water; Water; Status; Blind; Oxygen; Nutrition; Digestive system; Enzyme; Liver; Radical; Prospective; Symptomatology; Generation; Randomization; Influence
• ISSN: 0261-5614; 1532-1983
• DOI: 10.1016/j.clnu.2004.12.007

Background & Aims: Oxygenated water with an oxygen concentration of 30–120 mg/l water is believed to improve the immune status, without any toxicological effects. The purpose of this clinical study was to assess the effects of long-term drinking of oxygenated water on the immune status. Methods: In this prospective, double-blinded, randomised study 24 volunteers of either sex (age 18–63 years) drank daily 3 times 500 ml either oxygenated (Verum-group: n = 12 ) or normal mineral water (Placebo-group: n = 12 ) for 28 days. On day 1 and day 28 standard laboratory tests, IgG, IgA and IgM, lymphocyte subpopulations and functional analysis of T-cells by flow cytometry, were done. Furthermore, the oxygen radicals were determined by the detection of the ascorbyl radicals. Results: Drinking of normal or oxygenated water had no effect on whole blood count or the liver enzymes. Interestingly the volunteers in the Verum-group showed a significant increase in ascorbyl radicals after drinking oxygenated water for 14 and 21 days. CD4+ and CD4+CD45RA+ lymphocytes as well as lymphocyte activation marker (CD69) and soluble IL-2 receptor increased in both groups, in contrast T-helper2 cells and IgG decreased during the study. The only differences between the two groups were a significant decrease of NK-cells form 13.42%±5.04 to 10.83%±4.82 ( P < . 002 ) and an increase of the Th1/Th2-ratio from 2.77%±1.07 to 6.68%±5.33 ( P < . 03 ) in the Verum-group. Conclusion: Long-term consumption of oxygenated water has no apparent harmful effect on the liver, blood and the immune system. Moreover it leads to a transient moderate increase of oxygen radicals in the blood. An interesting observation is the increase of the Th1/Th2-ratio in the Verum group, whereas in both groups T-cell activation after mitogen stimulation, the soluble IL-2 receptor, the CD4+ and the naïve CD4+CD45RA+ cells increased.