Drinking Water Hardness Linked to Cardiovascular Disease Risk

Strategic Insights -

Spanish researchers have found a significant correlation between the hardness of drinking water and the risk of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. A study of 538 municipalities in Comunidad Valenciana, Spain, from 1991-1998 discovered that the protective effects of calcium and magnesium in drinking water were associated with a lower risk of these diseases. The researchers used the Spanish version of the Rapid Inquiry Facility (RIF) to analyze data from the European Environment and Health Information System (EUROHEIS) research project.

Key Takeaways:

  • The study found a negative correlation between drinking water hardness and cardiovascular mortality, suggesting that harder water may be protective against heart disease.
  • The protective effects of calcium and magnesium in drinking water were more pronounced in cerebrovascular disease than in ischemic heart disease.
  • Women were more affected by the relationship between drinking water hardness and cardiovascular disease risk than men.
  • Magnesium had a stronger effect on cardiovascular disease risk than calcium.
  • The study's findings suggested a possible protective effect of drinking water hardness, but it was not conclusive due to the influence of socioeconomic and environmental factors.
  • Disease mapping of standardized mortality ratios detected clusters of municipalities with high risk, which changed when adjusting for calcium and magnesium levels.

Statistics:

  • The study analyzed data from 538 municipalities in Comunidad Valenciana, Spain, from 1991-1998.
  • The researchers used the Spanish version of the RIF to explore possible associations between disease indicators and environmental factors.
  • The study found a significant relationship between mortality from cardiovascular diseases and drinking water hardness.
  • The protective effects of calcium and magnesium were more pronounced in women than in men.
  • Magnesium had a stronger effect on cardiovascular disease risk than calcium.

Sources:

  • J. Ferrandiz et al. "Spatial analysis of the relationship between mortality from cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disease and drinking water hardness." Environmental Health Perspectives, 2004;112(9):1037-1044.
  • EUROHEIS research project
  • U.S. Department of Health and Human Sciences Public Health Science
  • National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences
  • University of Valencia, Department Estadist & Invest Operativa.