User:Hannahlightolson/annotatedbib

Alkaline water in GERD treatment.
Alkaline water was a better buffer than non-alkaline water, had better acid buffering capacities, suggesting it may be good for reducing GERD symptoms.

Strengths: Specifically compared alkaline water to "commercially available bottled water" (good control group).

Weaknesses: Study not performed in humans, connection is largely theoretical.

Side of controversy: SUPPORTS the idea that alkaline water may have health benefits.

Alkaline water effects on blood pressure, blood sugar and blood lipids.
Compared hypertension, diabetes, and hyperlipidaemia before and after consumption of alkaline water, suggested that alkaline water returned blood pressure, sugar, and lipid concentrations to normal.

Strengths: Done in humans, broadens range to clinical instead of laboratory, more generalizable.

Weaknesses: Seems way too good to be true -- full text with methods difficult to access. *Find before using in article*

Side of controversy: SUPPORTS the idea that alkaline water may have health benefits.

Alkaline water and blood viscosity.
Compared the effects of high-pH alkaline, electrolyte water versus standard water after dehydration; the former reduced blood viscosity significantly more.

Strengths: rigorous methods, large sample size of men and women.

Weaknesses: electrolytes may be a confounding variable.

Side of controversy: SUPPORTS the idea that alkaline water may have health benefits.

Alkaline water and metabolic effects.
Suggests alkaline ionized water increases metabolic activity.

Strengths: very specific in mechanism and methods.

Weaknesses: not in humans; difficult to generalize to clinical applications. Nuances to results; cannot be blatantly viewed as positive.

Side of controversy: SUPPORTS the idea that alkaline water may have health benefits.

Opposite side of controversy.
Most telling is the lack of research suggesting that alkaline water has any health benefits.

See also: how water may not remain alkaline in vitro

Your body simply won't change pH easily -- that's the point of homeostasis. Therefore, large-scale effects (like cancer treatment) from alkaline water doesn't make sense. Alkaline environments kill just about everything, not only cancer cells.

= Policy and Psychosocial Dimensions =

Emergency water treatment in refugee camps.
Alkaline water is treated with chlorine. Suggests alkalinity can be harmful at some point. Offers insight into the complexity of water treatment and the importance of color and clarity to consumption.

Strengths: offers concrete data on the quantity of chlorine used to clean drinking water.

Weaknesses: does not detail what "especially alkaline water" can be measured at.

Side of controversy: "other" side of controversy -- suggests that alkaline water is a phenomenon that warrants time consuming, difficult correctional treatment with important resources.

Japan's preference for alkaline water.
PART ONE

A meta-review of research in Japan brings evidence to alkaline water health claims, while, simultaneously, offers insight into the value of this product in Japan.

Strengths: offers research that supports alkaline (reduced) water as an anti-oxidant (carrying potential to combat diabetes, cancer, arteriosclerosis, and neurodegeneration. Further suggests exact mechanisms for these effects -- not just correlational.

Weaknesses: many studies not done in humans, very few controlled trials.

Side of controversy: SUPPORTS the idea that alkaline water may have health benefits.

PART TWO

Many Japanese people personally own water ionizers (even hospitals have them). There is clear cultural value for the devices and possible health benefits. Insight into why this may be trendy, potentially indicates status.

Strengths: significant adoption of technology would suggest the benefits are solid.

Weaknesses: the article is published by an ionizer website and has a clearly persuasive tone.

Side of controversy: SUPPORTS (with conflict of interest likely) the idea that alkaline water may have health benefits.

Alkaline water is expensive and a potential status symbol.
PART ONE

Cure-all health waters are a marketable trend right now, especially in the "Instagram generation." Companies are capitalizing on this moment with expensive, celebrity endorsed offerings.

Strengths: offers specific examples of waters and endorsements. Brings unique perspectives on the psychosocial dimensions of expensive products.

Weaknesses: does not have concrete evidence surrounding the controversy of the scientific benefit of alkaline water. Quotes other research discrediting the idea of alkaline water as healthful.

Side of controversy: generally does not support the idea that alkaline water would have health benefits.

PART TWO

Expensive waters are being sold at bars, in supermarkets, and in speciality health stores. Expensive water is becoming a status symbol and a fashion accessory. Prompts the question -- could expensive water provide "feel better" benefits in a psychosomatic or emotional way?

Strengths: quotes exact prices and advertisements of expensive waters. Mentions varieties of alkaline waters by name and specifies the claims of the respective brands.

Weaknesses: is more branding and media than scientifically driven.

Side of controversy: generally does not support the idea that alkaline water would have health benefits.