- Experts are interested in finding simple interventions that contribute to weight loss.
- One recent report highlights that drinking carbonated or sparkling water may contribute to weight loss by increasing red blood cell uptake and glucose metabolism.
- The physiological process is similar to what occurs in hemodialysis — the filtering of the body’s blood.
- Consuming sparkling water to help with weight loss should be examined alongside other factors, such as the risk of consumption and other strategies for weight loss.
Carbonated water or sparkling water is water that contains carbon dioxide (CO2). It’s more commonly called sparkling water, and experts are interested in potential health benefits and drawbacks. One area of interest is how drinking sparkling water may assist with weight loss.
A report published in BMJ Nutrition, Prevention & Health discussed how drinking sparkling water may contribute to weight loss. It suggests that the CO2 in the water leads to increased glucose breakdown and increased glucose uptake by red blood cells. This may contribute to weight loss.
However, the report notes that the effects are so minimal that carbonated water is unlikely to have a significant impact on weight loss on its own. More research is required in this area.
How sparkling water aids weight loss
The report begins by noting a few ways that drinking sparkling water may help with weight loss. For example, drinking sparkling water may lead to increased feelings of fullness. The report notes that it may also lower blood sugar levels but that the mechanisms are not entirely clear. The relationship between blood sugar and drinking carbonated water is the main focus of the report.
After sparkling water is consumed, CO2 goes through the stomach capillaries into the bloodstream. From here, the red blood cells use an enzyme called carbonic anhydrase to convert the CO2 into bicarbonate (HCO3-).
Next, the interior of the red blood cells ultimately becomes alkaline or less acidic. This leads to an increase in the breakdown of glucose by the red blood cells to produce energy, a process called glycolysisTrusted Source.
This is believed to promote glycolysis and increase the red blood cells’ glucose uptake from the plasma.
The report compares this process to the similar lowering of blood sugar that occurs in hemodialysisTrusted Source, the filtering of the blood. It references a previous paperTrusted Source published in 2004 that discussed how hemodialysis may lead to lowered blood sugar.
Report author Akira Takahashi with the Dialysis Center at Tesseikai Neurosurgery Hospital in Shijonawate, Japan, highlighted the main points of the report this way:
“When carbonated water is consumed, CO₂ is absorbed into the blood vessels in the stomach. This CO₂ rapidly penetrates the lipid membranes of red blood cells and is converted into bicarbonate ions by carbonic anhydrase, increasing the alkalinity of the red blood cells. This alkalinity promotes glycolysis, which consumes glucose in red blood cells and lowers blood glucose levels.”
Thus, sparkling water could indirectly help weight loss through its effect on blood glucose.
Paper limitations and continued research
This paper overall offers valuable insights into how sparkling water may contribute to weight loss and the underlying physiological processes that may be involved.
However, this report is based on the research and perspective of one author. It also highlights a study published in 2004, so additional and more updated research may be beneficial.
Overall, the report emphasizes that the data supports the idea that CO2 leads to a decrease in the acidity of the inside of red blood cells, leading red blood cells to break down glucose and take in more glucose from plasma. However, future research may find that this is not the case or that additional factors are at work.
“While drinking carbonated water may lead to temporary glucose consumption in the blood near the stomach, further research is needed to confirm this effect. Follow-up studies using continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) to measure blood glucose levels before and after consuming carbonated water would be valuable for verification.”
— Akira Takahashi, report author
Additionally, future research can focus on the side effects of drinking sparkling water and its long-term effects.
Mir Ali, MD, board-certified general surgeon, bariatric surgeon, and medical director of MemorialCare Surgical Weight Loss Center at Orange Coast Medical Center in Fountain Valley, CA, commented the following about the study to Medical News Today:
“This is an interesting study, though it is theoretical and requires clinical research in people comparing consumption of carbonated water vs non-carbonated water. If studies in humans show a benefit of carbonated water, then it may be an adjunct to a healthy diet.”
Benefits vs. drawbacks of drinking sparkling water
As pointed out in this report, drinking sparkling water may offer certain benefits, but it may also have certain drawbacks.
“The potential benefits are largely unknown, though there have been some studies that show carbonated water may aid in constipation relief,” Ali noted. He suggests the potential downsides of drinking carbonated water include bloating and gas.
Overall, the potential benefit of drinking sparkling water to promote weight loss is minimal. When comparing it to what occurs in hemodialysis, Takahashi noted the following:
“During a four-hour session of hemodialysis, only about 9.5g of glucose is consumed. Since drinking carbonated water provides CO₂ for a much shorter period than hemodialysis, its effect on glucose consumption is negligible and does not contribute to weight loss.”
Thus, the paper emphasizes that drinking sparkling water should not be a standalone strategy for losing weight and that eating a balanced diet and exercising remain important components. It also notes that drinking sparkling water can negatively affect the digestive system, so moderation is important. Additionally, it could lead to temporary drops in blood sugar levels and affect blood sugar measurements taken while drinking these beverages.
Takahashi explained that “testing blood glucose levels immediately after consuming carbonated water might result in a lower reading, potentially leading to an underestimation of the actual blood glucose level.”
Culled from MedicalNewsToday
