[Effects of water with a low mineral content on serum electrolytes and blood pressure]

The effects of low-mineral content water (Adelholzener Primus-Quelle) in 62 patients were studied of which 14 were hypertonic. Changes of blood sodium, potassium, chloride and bicarbonate were not observed in either group. In the hypertonic patients, blood pressure decreased from a mean systolic value of 168 to 140 mmHg and mean distolic pressure from 105 to 88 mmHg. Observations to date suggest the following indications for a low-mineral content water diet: 1. hypertension, 2. renal insufficiency in stages of compensated and decompensated retention, especially in cases with high serum potassium levels, 3. in the initial therapy of diabetes, gout and obesity; patients with a high water demand should be treated with low-mineral content water until the optimal intake of electrolytes is established.