Planning Series Beyond Clean Water to 'Water that Treats and Prevents'... Global Functional Water Research Trends (#3)
- Medical efficacy proven beyond removing harmful substances in water; global paradigm shift
- From 50 years of clinical data in Japan to functional water health insurance coverage in Europe
- Active research on magnesium-based cell protection... Popularization of functional water in daily life draws attention
[News S=Reporter Kim Jin-ho] "The current global research trend in functional water can be described in one phrase as a paradigm shift beyond the era of clean water to 'water that treats and prevents.'"
Dr. Lee Kyou-jae, professor at Yonsei University Wonju College of Medicine, said that the global academic community and developed nations already view water as a health management tool beyond simple drinking water. While the past focused on filtering pollutants from water, the current trend is to actively apply water to disease prevention by proving its bioactive functions and medical efficacy.
The global trends leading functional water research can be identified through three key axes.
■ Medical verification and institutional establishment in developed nations... 'Medicalization of water' becomes everyday
The reporter asked Professor Lee about the specific actions of global developed nations that have already entered super-aged societies. He explained that functional water in Japan and Europe has moved beyond institutional establishment to the popularization stage.
>⊙ Japan's life-oriented medical verification and popularization
Japan is the world's leading country in functional water research. Since 1966, it has recognized alkaline ionized water as medical electrolyzed water and has accumulated vast clinical data over more than 50 years.
Professor Lee stated, "Japan officially recognizes the effects of functional water in improving gastric symptoms, chronic diarrhea, and indigestion," and added, "Currently, research mainly focuses on expanding and applying the antioxidant effects of alkaline functional water and hydrogen water to the broader beauty and healthcare industries, including dementia prevention, diabetes management, and aging suppression."
⊙ Europe's 'medicalization of water' and institutional establishment
In developed European countries such as Germany and France, hot spring water rich in minerals and carbonic acid is approached from a 'healing' perspective. In fact, hot spring hospitals and specialized hot spring physician systems are active locally, and these countries highly value the medical benefits of functional water to the extent that they apply health insurance to customized functional water prescriptions tailored to patients' symptoms.
■ Targeting 'reactive oxygen species,' the culprit of chronic diseases... Cell protection research based on essential minerals
Professor Lee particularly emphasized that the global academic community has recently focused on antioxidant mechanisms that remove 'reactive oxygen species,' which causes chronic diseases and aging, noting this is deeply related to his own research field.
"My recent research paper published in an SCIE-level international academic journal proved that alkaline mineral water enriched with magnesium suppresses oxidative stress in kidney cells contaminated by hyperglycemia, prevents cell death, and has positive effects in preventing diabetes complications."
According to Professor Lee's explanation, the current global research trend is to clarify at the molecular biological level what defense mechanisms are exerted at the cellular level by functional water enriched with specific minerals like magnesium.
Ultimately, the global research trend culminates in 'how to continuously consume water with minerals and antioxidant capacity suitable for me in daily life.'
■ Popularization of preventive medicine enjoyed in daily life without complicated devices
What draws attention amid the global trend is 'accessibility.' No matter how effective functional water is, it cannot be popularized if it requires cumbersome devices or incurs high costs each time.
Professor Lee evaluated, "Technology like mineral makers that help people easily consume alkaline water rich in essential minerals such as magnesium in daily life is an excellent example demonstrating the popularization of preventive medicine that global functional water research trends are pursuing."
This means that technology for maintaining bodily balance through water consumed daily without grand medical equipment is the core of future healthcare.
Then, what specific differences in absorption rate and immunity will simply filtered water and functional water that actively helps our bodies create within seniors' bodies?
In the fourth installment next week, intensive coverage will focus on 'why the concept of water that helps the body beyond simply clean water should be importantly addressed in senior care,' a key topic that will change the paradigm of senior care.