Cholesterol, High Cholesterol

A study focused on a group of postmenopausal women drinking sodium-rich carbonated mineral water. Women included in the study were amenorrheic (the absence of menstrual periods) for more than a year, healthy, and not obese (body mass index [BMI] < 30 kg/m2). The study consisted of 2 intervention periods of 2 months each, during which women drank 1 L/d of a control mineral water (low mineral content) for 2 months followed by the carbonated mineral water, rich in sodium, bicarbonate, and chloride, for remaining 2 month. Measures including body weight, height, blood pressure, and BMI were measured. Blood samples were taken and analyzed.  Results indicate that drinking sparkling mineral water significantly reduced total cholesterol by 6.8% and reduced low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, the so-called “bad” cholesterol, by 14.8% and increase the good high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol by 8.7%. Blood pressure levels did not change throughout the study. Results suggest that bicarbonate from mineral waters may reduce cardiovascular risk in healthy postmenopausal women. (126)