Drinking 1 liter of Hépar, a magnesium sulfate-rich mineral water, daily reduces constipation and hard or lumpy stools more effectively than low-mineral water in women.
Randomised Controlled Trial Constipation Magnesium Mineral Water
This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial studied the effects of Hépar, a magnesium sulfate-rich natural mineral water, on 244 adult women with functional constipation, as defined by the Rome III criteria. The participants, identified by 62 general practitioners across France, were divided into three groups. After a washout period, they either drank 1.5 liters of natural low-mineral water daily (control group), 0.5 liters of Hépar plus 1 liter of low-mineral water daily (Hépar 0.5 group), or 1 liter of Hépar plus 0.5 liters of low-mineral water daily (Hépar 1 group) for four weeks. Data on stool number and type, abdominal pain, use of rescue medications, adverse events, and water consumption were collected.
No significant effect was observed in the first week. However, by the second week, constipation reduction was observed in 21.1% of the control group, 30.9% in the Hépar 0.5 group, and 37.5% in the Hépar 1 group. The Hépar 1 group also experienced fewer hard or lumpy stools and less need for rescue medication. The effectiveness correlated with the magnesium sulfate concentration in the water. Safety was excellent, with no serious adverse events reported among the Hépar consumers. The study concluded that daily consumption of 1 liter of Hépar significantly reduced constipation and the occurrence of hard or lumpy stools in women with functional constipation, starting from the second week of treatment.
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