Effects of drinking desalinated seawater on cell viability and proliferation

• Published in: Journal of water and health 2017-06, Vol.15 (3), p.360-366
• Main Authors: Macarrão, Camila Longhi, Bachi, André Luis Lacerda, Mariano, Mario, Abel, Lucia Jamli
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Annexin A5 - chemistry; Apoptosis; Assaying; Atherosclerosis; Blood pressure; Cell death; Cell growth; Cell Line, Tumor; Cell Proliferation - drug effects; Cell Survival - drug effects; Cells; Chemical analysis; Coloring Agents - chemistry; Cytotoxicity; Desalination; Dietary minerals; Drinking water; Drinking Water - chemistry; Embryo fibroblasts; Embryos; Enzymes; Fibroblasts; Fluorescein; Fluorescein isothiocyanate; Fluorescein-5-isothiocyanate - chemistry; Food; Freshwater; Freshwater resources; Incidence; Inland water environment; Iodides; Leukemia; Melanoma; Mice; Mineral water; Minerals; Minerals - pharmacology; NIH 3T3 Cells; Pretreatment; Proliferation; Propidium - chemistry; Propidium iodide; Seawater; Seawater - analysis; Seawater - chemistry; Serum; Staining; Staining and Labeling; Tetrazolium Salts - chemistry; Thiazoles - chemistry; Trace elements; Water analysis; Water desalting; Water Purification; Water scarcity
• ISSN: 1477-8920; 1996-7829
• DOI: 10.2166/wh.2017.252

Desalination of seawater is becoming an important means to address the increasing scarcity of freshwater resources in the world. Seawater has been used as drinking water in the health, food, and medical fields and various beneficial effects have been suggested, although not confirmed. Given the presence of 63 minerals and trace elements in drinking desalinated seawater (63 DSW), we evaluated their effects on the behavior of tumorigenic and nontumorigenic cells through the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide assay and annexin-V-fluorescein isothiocyanate/propidium iodide staining. Our results showed that cell viability and proliferation in the presence of 63 DSW were significantly greater than in mineral water and in the presence of fetal bovine serum in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, 63 DSW showed no toxic effect on murine embryonic fibroblast (NIH-3T3) and murine melanoma (B16-F10) cells. In another assay, we also showed that pre-treatment of non-adherent THP-1 cells with 63 DSW reduces apoptosis incidence, suggesting a protective effect against cell death. We conclude that cell viability and proliferation were improved by the mineral components of 63 DSW and this effect can guide further studies on health effects associated with DSW consumption.