IMPROVEMENT OF SKIN SYMPTOMS AND MINERAL IMBALANCE BY DRINKING DEEP SEA WATER IN PATIENTS WITH ATOPIC ECZEMA / DERMATITIS SYNDROME ( AEDS )

s from “The Sixth Scientific Conference of the Charles University Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital“, 23 January 2002, Hradec Králové ....................................................47


Introduction
Magnesium (Mg) is involved in the regulation of immune responses.It has been reported that in Mg deficient rats, serum levels of substance P, histamine, interleukin-1 (IL-1), IL-6 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha were elevated (5).Mg deficiency also caused atopic eczema/dermatitis syndrome (AEDS)-like symptoms in hairless rats (3).
We have previously reported that drinking of refined deep sea water that contains Mg as its main cation signigicantly reduces whole blood flow time and blood pressure in healthy volunteers (4).We have now studied the effect of drinking deep sea water on patients with AEDS.

Materials and method
Deep sea water, Amami no Mizu Hardness 1000 (Ako Kasei Co. Ltd.), obtained at 344 m depth and refined, contained Mg as well as other minerals.500 ml of it contained Mg (100.0 mg), Na (37.0 mg), Ca (35.5 mg), and K (34.5 mg) and other trace minerals (Zn: 2.0 µg.Cu: 2.2 µg.I: 4.5 ug.P: 4.5 µg, Se: 0.2 µg).After obtaining the informed consent, 8 patients with AEDS (range: 21-52 years, mean age: 36 years), drank 500 ml/day of deep sea water (Amami no Mizu Hardness 1000).As control group, 10 patients with AEDS (range: 20-53 years, mean age: 36 years) drank 500 ml/day of distilled water, which did not contain minerals.At baseline and after 1 year, skin symptoms were assessed by skin scoring system as previously reported (1).Briefly, assessment was done on a scale of 0 to 2 in ascending order of severity with respect to inflammation.These signs were assessed on 15 areas of the body (face, scalp, neck, right arm, left arm, right hand, left hand, trunk, back, pelvis, buttocks, right leg, left leg, tight foot and left foot).The maximum possible score was 30.Hair minerals were analyzed by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry.Simultaneously, serum levels of anti-mite IgE, anti-Japanese cedar pollen IgE, IL-4, IL-13 and IL-18 were measured by ELISA (2).Patients were asked to maintain their skin cares with washing by povidone iodine followed with applying azulene ointment.Since Mg, K and Ca interact mutually, the results of them were shown as Mg/K and Ca/Mg rations, while the levels of Al, Mg, Pb were shown as absolute values (PPM).

Results
As shown in Table 1, after 1 year, skin symptoms by skin score were significantly improved in deep sea water group, while they were unchanged in control group.
Hair analysis revealed elevated levels of Mg/K and ca/Mg ratios, Al, Hg and Pb levels at baseline in both groups of patients.However, in deep sea group they returned to normal levels, while they were unchanged in control group.In both groups, serum levels of Mg/K and Ca/Mg ratios were within normal range at baseline, and they were unchanged after 1 year (data not shown).Moreover, serum levels of anti-Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus and anti-Japanese cedar pollen IgE, and IgE-inducing cytokines IL-4, IL-13 and IL-18 were decreased significantly in deep water sea group, while they were not decreased in control group.

Discussion
Although number is small, these results suggest that deep sea water intake may improve skin symptoms and mineral imbalance and decrease IgE production and IgE-inducing cytokines, IL-4, IL-13 and IL-18.Large scale of study which has been currently in progress is needed.

. 1 :
Effect of drinking deep sea water in patients with AEDS.