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A new report from the National Academy of Medicine highlights the role of certain types of bottled water on the body. Some of them would require medical advice before being consumed.
“The long-term consumption of packaged water, natural mineral water in particular, must be approved by the attending physician”. Here’s what recommends the National Academy of Medicine on bottled water in a recent report.
In this report, the experts emphasize the importance of specific mentions on the label of the bottles. According to them, “certain packaged waters, natural mineral waters, mainly spring waters, may have a mineral content causing clinical effects which deserve to be mentioned for the information of consumers”, they write in the report.
Mineral waters that must be mentioned
The National Academy of Medicine identifies several types of water whose label should mention its impact on the body:
- Bicarbonated waters could display the mention “stimulates digestion” because they tend to facilitate digestion;
- Sulfated waters should contain the mention “possible laxative effect” because these are generally the cause of diarrhoea. Regarding sulphated water for children and infants, the sulphate concentration must be 140mg / L (against 200mg / L in adults) and should display the mention “possible laxative effect in infants and children ”. Experts recommend medical advice for this type of water when used to treat constipation;
- Bicarbonated, sulphated-bicarbonated, sulphated magnesium waters could display the mention “could promote hepatobiliary functions” because of the potential risk on the bile ducts.
Concerning the fluoride present in certain bottled waters, the mention “contains more than 0.3 mg/L of fluorine: not suitable for infants for regular consumption in the event of medical fluoride supplementation” should be displayed according to specialists. An excessive intake of fluoride would have undesirable effects on the structure as well as the quality of the teeth and the skeleton.
“The notices constitute useful information for the protection of consumer health. However, each clinical situation being specific, the long-term consumption of conditioned water, EMN in particular, must be approved by the attending physician. The essential physicochemical composition of all water intended for human consumption must be communicated to consumers”conclude the experts in their report.