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A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial and Multi-Omics Analysis of Electrolysed Alkaline Water: Impacts on Gut Microbiota and Metabolic Signatures in Hyperuricemia

Liu Q, Gu W, Ma J, Wang J, Yu M, Xu M, Wang S

Nutrients, 2025

40 participants · 2 citations

Abstract

Background/Objectives: Hyperuricemia (HUA) is the second most common metabolic disease in China (24.5% in males, 3.6% in females), which can induce multiple complications such as gout and diabetes. Existing urate-lowering drugs have significant hepatorenal toxicity, necessitating safe lifestyle interventions. Electrolyzed alkaline water (EAW) as daily drinking water has shown preliminary effectiveness, but it lacks randomized controlled evidence and mechanistic studies at the microbiome-metabolome interface. Methods: We conducted a 12-week randomized controlled trial in 40 adults aged 18-65 years with elevated serum uric acid (SUA). Participants consumed either 1.5 L/day of EAW (pH 8.5-9.5) or purified water (pH 7.0). Clinical indicators, quality of life (SF-36), gut microbiota, and gut metabolomics were comprehensively assessed to evaluate intervention efficacy and explore potential mechanisms. Results: After 12 weeks, the EAW group exhibited a larger reduction in serum uric acid than the control group, along with improvements in selected physical health-related quality-of-life measures. Modest differences in gut microbial composition were observed between groups. Metabolomic analyses identified group-level differences in metabolites enriched in pathways related to purine metabolism and other urate-associated metabolic processes. Conclusions: This pilot randomized controlled trial suggests that consumption of EAW is associated with a modest reduction in serum uric acid.…

How strong is the evidence?

Evidence Hub reads this as a randomized trial, done in people. Its evidence level is 2 of 5 (High · randomized trial). Randomized trials of a reasonable size are the strongest single-study design. Reported size: 40 participants or records.

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