Associations of alkaline water with metabolic risks, sleep quality, muscle strength: A cross-sectional study among postmenopausal women

PLoS One. 2022 Oct 31;17(10):e0275640. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0275640. eCollection 2022.

Abstract

Much has been claimed on the health benefits of alkaline water including metabolic syndrome (MetS) and its features with scarcity of scientific evidence. Methods: This cross-sectional comparative study was conducted to determine whether regular consumption of alkaline water confers health advantage on blood metabolites, anthropometric measures, sleep quality and muscle strength among postmenopausal women. A total of 304 community-dwelling postmenopausal women were recruited with comparable proportion of regular drinkers of alkaline water and non-drinkers. Participants were ascertained on dietary intake, lifestyle factors, anthropometric and biochemical measurements. Diagnosis of MetS was made according to Joint Interim Statement definition. A total of 47.7% of the participants met MS criteria, with a significant lower proportion of MetS among the alkaline water drinkers. The observed lower fasting plasma glucose (F(1,294) = 24.20, p = 0.025, partial η2 = 0.435), triglyceride/high-density lipoprotein concentration ratio (F(1,294) = 21.06, p = 0.023, partial η2 = 0.360), diastolic blood pressure (F(1,294) = 7.85, p = 0.046, partial η2 = 0.258) and waist circumference (F(1,294) = 9.261, p = 0.038, partial η2 = 0.263) in the alkaline water drinkers could be considered as favourable outcomes of regular consumption of alkaline water. In addition, water alkalization improved duration of sleep (F(1,294) = 32.05, p = 0.007, partial η2 = 0.451) and handgrip strength F(1,294) = 27.51, p = 0.011, partial η2 = 0.448). Low density lipoprotein cholesterol concentration (F(1,294) = 1.772, p = 0.287, partial η2 = 0.014), body weight (F(1,294) = 1.985, p = 0.145, partial η2 = 0.013) and systolic blood pressure (F(1,294) = 1.656, p = 0.301, partial η2 = 0.010) were comparable between the two different water drinking behaviours. In conclusion, drinking adequate of water is paramount for public health with access to good quality drinking water remains a critical issue. While consumption of alkaline water may be considered as a source of easy-to implement lifestyle to modulate metabolic features, sleep duration and muscle strength, further studies are warranted for unravelling the precise mechanism of alkaline water consumption on the improvement and prevention of MetS and its individual features, muscle strength and sleep duration as well as identification of full spectrum of individuals that could benefit from its consumption.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Blood Glucose / metabolism
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Female
  • Hand Strength
  • Humans
  • Metabolic Syndrome*
  • Muscle Strength
  • Postmenopause*
  • Risk Factors
  • Sleep Quality
  • Waist Circumference
  • Water

Substances

  • Water
  • Blood Glucose

Grants and funding

The funder (Universiti Putra Malaysia) provided financial research grant and support in the form of salaries for authors [YMC, ZMS, YSC, SSG], but did not have any additional role in the study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript. The specific roles of these authors are articulated in the ‘author contributions’ section. One of the authors, YMC received financial research fund from CUCKOO International (MAL) Pte Ltd. The funder had no role in the study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript. The fund recipient, YMC did not involve in the consultancy, patents, products in development or marketed products of the funder. The financial assistant does not alter our adherence to PLOS ONE policies on sharing data and materials.