Evaluation of the potential benefits of alkaline drinking water on tumor development reveals vascular protective effects

Introduction The proposed benefits of alkaline water generally lack experimental supporting evidence. Material and methods We tested the effects of alkaline water on tumor development in C57BL/6 mice. To recapitulate early tumor development, mice were fed a high-fat diet and treated with DEN (50 µg/l) and TCPOBOP (0.5 µg/g) for 24 weeks. Results Cell proliferation was significantly lower in animals receiving alkaline water, and VEGFR2 staining was higher in the vasculature, suggesting less advanced disease stages. B16-V5 cells were injected subcutaneously or through the tail vein to generate primary tumors or lung metastatic nodules, respectively. Subcutaneous tumors of mice exposed to alkaline water showed a lower proliferative index and vasculature with a better-preserved intima layer and structure. The number of lung metastatic nodules was lower in mice exposed to filtered water. The vascular effects were tested in a rat model of hypertension (spontaneously hypertensive rat – SHR). Following 12 weeks of alkaline water consumption, the aortic rings had an enhanced vasodilatory response to a nitric oxide donor (nitroprusside – NTP), and several inflammatory markers were reduced in blood and heart tissue. Conclusions These results indicate that alkaline water could have a protective effect on vascular function, reduce inflammation, and in the context of tumor development, reduce the incidence of metastasis.