Effects of Sodium Chloride-Rich Mineral Water on Intestinal Epithelium. Experimental Study

Pascual-Vicente Crespo, Fernando Campos, Manuel Leal and Francisco Maraver
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Pascual-Vicente Crespo: Tissue Engineering Group, Department of Histology, University of Granada, 18016 Granada, Spain
Fernando Campos: Tissue Engineering Group, Department of Histology, University of Granada, 18016 Granada, Spain
Manuel Leal: Professional School of Medical Hydrology, Complutense University of Madrid, Plaza Ramón y Cajal s/n, 28040 Madrid, Spain
Francisco Maraver: Professional School of Medical Hydrology, Complutense University of Madrid, Plaza Ramón y Cajal s/n, 28040 Madrid, Spain

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 6, 1-12

Abstract: Since knowledge concerning the cellular and tissue substrate that explains the therapeutic action of mineral waters is generally very scarce, we address the different effects that Lanjarón-Capuchina mineral water exerts on the intestinal epithelium in an experimental model as a prototype of the sodium chloride-rich mineral waters used in digestive disorders. In the experimental protocol, two groups of five adult Wistar rats received unrestricted mineral water in their diet or mineral water directly into the gastrointestinal tract through a catheter. A third control group was given a standard diet and water ad libitum. Intestinal samples for scanning electron microscopy were analyzed according to standardized methods. The observations carried out by microscope after the administration of the sodium chloride-rich mineral water clearly indicate that the hypertonic action of this mineral water affects the structure of the intestinal epithelium. It modifies the microvilli absorption in terms of the groups of enterocytes and the secretion of goblet cells, but it particularly affects the epithelial renewal process, accelerating and stimulating cell extrusion. The type of extrusion mechanism observed by microscope allows us to affirm that, although this increased after direct administration, it does not generate an epithelial disruption as it occurs in other circumstances with other extrusion modalities.

Keywords: balneology; sodium chloride mineral water; hydropinic therapy; drinking cure; intestinal epithelium; osmotic effect; scanning electron microscopy; rats; animal study (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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