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Clinical evaluation of alkaline ionized water for abdominal complaints:
Placebo controlled double blind tests.
by Hirokazu Tashiro, Tetsuji Hokudo, Hiromi Ono, Yoshihide Fujiyama, Tadao Baba
(National Ohkura Hospital, Dept. of Gastroenterology; Institute of Clinical
Research, Shiga University of Medical Science, Second Dept. of Internal
Medicine)
Effect of alkaline ionized water on abdominal complaints was evaluated by
placebo controlled double blind tests. Overall scores of improvement using
alkaline ionized water marked higher than those of placebo controlled group, and
its effect proved to be significantly higher especially in slight symptoms of
chronic diarrhea and abdominal complaints in cases of general malaise.
Alkaline ionized water group did not get interrupted in the course of the
test, nor did it show serious side effects nor abnormal test data. It was
confirmed that alkaline ionized water is safer and more effective than placebos.
Summary
Effect of alkaline ionized water on abdominal complaints was clinically
examined by double blind tests using clean water as placebo. Overall improvement
rate was higher for alkaline ionized water group than placebo group and the
former proved to be significantly more effective than the other especially in
cases of slight symptoms. Examining improvement rate for each case of chronic
diarrhea, constipation and abdominal complaints, alkaline ionized water group
turned out to be more effective than placebo group for chronic diarrhea, and
abdominal complaints.
The test was stopped in one case of chronic diarrhea, among placebo group
due to exacerbation, whereas alkaline ionized water group did not stop testing
without serious side effects or abnormal test data in all cases. It was
confirmed that alkaline ionized water is more effective than clean water against
chronic diarrhea, abdominal complaints and overall improvement rate (relief of
abdominal complaints) and safer than clean water.
Introduction
Since the approval of alkaline ionized water electrolyzers by Pharmaceutical
Affairs Law in 1966 for its antacid effect and efficacy against gastrointestinal
disorders including hyperchylia, indigestion, abnormal gastrointestinal
fermentation and chronic diarrhea, they have been extensively used among
patients. However, medical and scientific evaluation of their validity is not
established. In our study, we examined clinical effect of alkaline ionized water
on gastrointestinal disorders across many symptoms in various facilities.
Particularly, we studied safety and usefulness of alkaline ionized water by
doubleblind tests using clean water as a control group.
Test subjects and methods
163 patients (34 men, 129 women, age 21 to 72, average 38.6 years old) of
indigestion, abnormal gastrointestinal fermentation (with abnormal gas emission
and rugitus) and abdominal complaints caused by irregular dejection (chronic
diarrhea, or constipation) were tested as subjects with good informed consent.
Placebo controlled double blind tests were conducted using alkaline ionized
water and clean water at multiple facilities.
An alkaline ionized water electrolyzer sold commercially was installed with a
pump driven calcium dispenser in each of the subject homes. Tested alkaline
ionized water had pH at 9.5 and calcium concentration at 30ppm. Each subject in
placebo group used a water purifier that has the same appearance as the
electrolyzer and produces clean water.
The tested equipment was randomly assigned by a controller who scaled off the
key code which was stored safely until the tests were completed and the seal was
opened again.
Water samples were given to each patient in the amount of 200ml in the
morning with the total of 50OmI or more per day for a month. Before and after
the tests, blood, urine and stool were tested and a log was kept on the
subjective symptoms, bowel movements and accessory symptoms. After the tests,
the results were analyzed based on the log and the test data.
Test Results
1. Symptom
Among 163 tested subjects, alkaline ionized water group included 84 and
placebo group 79. Background factors such as gender, age and basal disorders did
not contribute to significant difference in the results.
2. Overall improvement rate
As to overall improvement rate of abdominal complaints, alkaline ionized
water group had 2 cases of outstanding improvement (2.5%), 26 cases of fair
improvement (32.1%), 36 cases of slight improvement (44.4%), 13 cases of no
change (16%) and 4 cases of exacerbation (4.9%), whereas placebo group exhibited
4 (5.2%), 19 (24.7%), 27 (35.1%), 25 (32.5%) and 2 cases (2.6%) for the same
category. Comparison between alkaline ionized water and placebo groups did not
reveal any significant difference at the level of 5% significance according to
the Wilcoxon test, although alkaline ionized water group turned out to be
significantly more effective than placebo group at the level of p value of 0.22.
Examining overall improvement rates by a 7, 2 test (with no adjustment for
continuity) between the effective and noneffective groups, alkaline ionized
water group had 64 (79%) of effective cases and 17 cases (21%) of non effective
cases, whereas placebo group had 50 (64.9%) and 27 (35.1%) cases respectively.
The result indicated that alkaline ionized water group was significantly more
effective than placebo group at the level of p value of 0.0.48.
Looking only at 83 slight cases of abdominal complaints, overall improvement
rate for alkaline ionized water group
(45 cases) was composed of 11 cases (242%) of fair improvement, 22 cases
(48.9%) of slight improvement, 17 cases (44.7%) of no change and 3 cases (6.7%)
of exacerbation, whereas placebo group (38 cases) had 3 (7.8%), 17 (44.7%), 17
(44.7%) and 1 (2.6%) cases for the same category. Alkaline ionized water group
was significantly more effective than placebo group according to the comparison
between the groups (p value = 0.033).
3. Improvement rate by basal symptom
Basal symptoms were divided into chronic diarrhea, constipation and abdominal
complaints (dyspepsia) and overall improvement rate was evaluated for each of
them to study effect of alkaline ionized water. In case of chronic diarrhea,
alkaline ionized water group resulted in 94.1% of effective cases and 5.9% of
non effective cases. Placebo group came up with 64,7% effective and 35.3% non
effective. These results indicate alkaline ionized water group proved to be
significantly more effective than placebo group. In case of slighter chronic
diarrhea, comparison between groups revealed that alkaline ionized water group
is significantly more effective than placebo group (p=0.015). In case of
constipation, alkaline ionized water group consisted of 80.5% of effective and
19.5% of non effective cases, whereas placebo group resulted in 73.3% effective
and 26.3 non effective. As to abdominal complaints (dyspepsia), alkaline ionized
water group had 85.7% of effective and 14.3% non effective cases while placebo
group showed 47.1% and 62.9% respectively. Alkaline ionized water group proved
to be significantly more effective than placebo group (p=0.025).
4. Safety
Since one case of chronic diarrhea, in placebo group saw exacerbation, the
test was stopped. There was no such cases in alkaline ionized water group.
Fourteen cases of accessory symptoms, 8 in alkaline ionized water group and 6 in
placebo group, were observed, none of which were serious. 31 out of 163 cases
(16 in alkaline ionized water group, 15 in placebo group) exhibited fluctuation
in test data, although alkaline ionized water group did not have any problematic
fluctuations compared to placebo group. Two cases in placebo group and one case
in alkaline ionized water group have seen K value of serum climb up and resume
to normal value after re testing which indicates the value changes were
temporary.
Conclusion
As a result of double blind clinical tests of alkaline ionized water and
clean water, alkaline ionized water was proved to be more effective than clean
water against chronic diarrhea, abdominal complaints (dyspepsia) and overall
improvement rate (relief from abdominal complaints). Also, safety of alkaline
ionized water was confirmed which clinically verifies its usefulness.
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