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The American Journal of Clinical... Aug 2013Drinking water is often applied as a dietary means for weight loss and overweight/obesity prevention, but no evidence-based recommendation exists for this indication. (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Drinking water is often applied as a dietary means for weight loss and overweight/obesity prevention, but no evidence-based recommendation exists for this indication.
OBJECTIVE
We summarized the existing evidence on the association between water consumption and body weight outcomes in adults of any body weight status.
DESIGN
In a systematic review, we retrieved studies from 4 electronic databases (MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, and COCHRANE), cross-references by PubMed functions and hand-searching, and experts' recommendations. Any type of study including adults aged >18 y that reported the association between daily water consumption and any weight-related outcome, such as body weight, body mass index, or body weight classifications, was eligible.
RESULTS
Of 4963 retrieved records, 11 original studies and 2 systematic reviews were included. In participants dieting for weight loss or maintenance, a randomized controlled trial, a nonrandomized controlled trial, and an observational longitudinal study showed that increased water consumption, in addition to a program for weight loss or maintenance, reduced body weight after 3-12 mo compared with such a program alone. In mixed-weight populations not primarily dieting for weight loss or maintenance, 2 short-term randomized trials showed no effect of water consumption on body weight; 6 cross-sectional studies showed inconsistent results.
CONCLUSIONS
Studies of individuals dieting for weight loss or maintenance suggest a weight-reducing effect of increased water consumption, whereas studies in general mixed-weight populations yielded inconsistent results. The evidence for this association is still low, mostly because of the lack of good-quality studies. This trial was registered at www.crd.york.ac.uk/Prospero as CRD42012002585.
Topics: Body Mass Index; Body Weight; Drinking; Evidence-Based Medicine; Humans; Meta-Analysis as Topic; Obesity; Overweight; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Weight Loss
PubMed: 23803882
DOI: 10.3945/ajcn.112.055061 -
BMJ Clinical Evidence Jan 2011Amoebic dysentery is caused by the protozoan parasite Entamoeba histolytica. It is transmitted in areas where poor sanitation allows contamination of drinking water and... (Review)
Review
INTRODUCTION
Amoebic dysentery is caused by the protozoan parasite Entamoeba histolytica. It is transmitted in areas where poor sanitation allows contamination of drinking water and food with faeces. In these areas, up to 40% of people with diarrhoea may have amoebic dysentery.
METHODS AND OUTCOMES
We conducted a systematic review and aimed to answer the following clinical question: What are the effects of drug treatments for amoebic dysentery in endemic areas? We searched: Medline, Embase, The Cochrane Library, and other important databases up to April 2010 (Clinical Evidence reviews are updated periodically; please check our website for the most up-to-date version of this review). We included harms alerts from relevant organisations such as the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the UK Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA).
RESULTS
We found 6 systematic reviews, RCTs, or observational studies that met our inclusion criteria. We performed a GRADE evaluation of the quality of evidence for interventions.
CONCLUSIONS
In this systematic review, we present information relating to the effectiveness and safety of the following interventions: diiodohydroxyquinoline (iodoquinol), diloxanide, emetine, metronidazole, nitazoxanide, ornidazole, paromomycin, secnidazole, and tinidazole.
Topics: Administration, Oral; Diarrhea; Dysentery, Amebic; Entamoeba histolytica; Humans; Incidence; Iodoquinol; Metronidazole; Paromomycin; Tinidazole
PubMed: 21477391
DOI: No ID Found -
PLoS Medicine Apr 2023In low- and middle-income countries (L&MICs), the biggest contributing factors to the global burden of disease in childhood are deaths due to respiratory illness and... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
BACKGROUND
In low- and middle-income countries (L&MICs), the biggest contributing factors to the global burden of disease in childhood are deaths due to respiratory illness and diarrhoea, both of which are closely related to use of water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) services by households. However, current estimates of the health impacts of WASH interventions use self-reported morbidity, which may fail to capture longer-term or more severe impacts. Reported mortality is thought to be less prone to bias than other reported measures. This study aimed to answer the question: What are the impacts of WASH interventions on reported childhood mortality in L&MICs?
METHODS AND FINDINGS
We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis, using a published protocol. Systematic searches of 11 academic databases and trial registries, plus organisational repositories, were undertaken to locate studies of WASH interventions, which were published in peer review journals or other sources (e.g., organisational reports and working papers). Intervention studies of WASH improvements implemented under endemic disease circumstances in L&MICs were eligible, which reported findings at any time until March 2020. We used the participant flow data supplied in response to journal editors' calls for greater transparency. Data were collected by two authors working independently. We included evidence from 24 randomized and 11 nonrandomized studies of WASH interventions from all global regions, incorporating 2,600 deaths. Effects of 48 WASH treatment arms were included in analysis. We critically appraised and synthesised evidence using meta-analysis to improve statistical power. We found WASH interventions are associated with a significant reduction of 17% in the odds of all-cause mortality in childhood (OR = 0.83, 95% CI = 0.74, 0.92, evidence from 38 interventions), and a significant reduction in diarrhoea mortality of 45% (OR = 0.55, 95% CI = 0.35, 0.84; 10 interventions). Further analysis by WASH technology indicated interventions providing improved water in quantity to households were most consistently associated with reductions in all-cause mortality. Community-wide sanitation was most consistently associated with reductions in diarrhoea mortality. Around one-half of the included studies were assessed as being at "moderate risk of bias" in attributing mortality in childhood to the WASH intervention, and no studies were found to be at "low risk of bias." The review should be updated to incorporate additional published and unpublished participant flow data.
CONCLUSIONS
The findings are congruent with theories of infectious disease transmission. Washing with water presents a barrier to respiratory illness and diarrhoea, which are the two biggest contributors to all-cause mortality in childhood in L&MICs. Community-wide sanitation halts the spread of diarrhoea. We observed that evidence synthesis can provide new findings, going beyond the underlying data from trials to generate crucial insights for policy. Transparent reporting in trials creates opportunities for research synthesis to answer questions about mortality, which individual studies of interventions cannot be reliably designed to address.
Topics: Humans; Drinking Water; Sanitation; Child Mortality; Hygiene; Diarrhea
PubMed: 37079510
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pmed.1004215 -
The American Journal of Tropical... Nov 2017Globally, approximately 2 billion people lack microbiologically safe drinking water. Boiling is the most prevalent household water treatment method, yet evidence of its... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
Globally, approximately 2 billion people lack microbiologically safe drinking water. Boiling is the most prevalent household water treatment method, yet evidence of its health impact is limited. To conduct this systematic review, we searched four online databases with no limitations on language or publication date. Studies were eligible if health outcomes were measured for participants who reported consuming boiled and untreated water. We used reported and calculated odds ratios (ORs) and random-effects meta-analysis to estimate pathogen-specific and pooled effects by organism group and nonspecific diarrhea. Heterogeneity and publication bias were assessed using , meta-regression, and funnel plots; study quality was also assessed. Of the 1,998 records identified, 27 met inclusion criteria and reported extractable data. We found evidence of a significant protective effect of boiling for infections (OR = 0.31, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.13-0.79, = 4 studies), (OR = 0.35, 95% CI = 0.17-0.69, = 3), protozoal infections overall (pooled OR = 0.61, 95% CI = 0.43-0.86, = 11), viral infections overall (pooled OR = 0.83, 95% CI = 0.7-0.98, = 4), and nonspecific diarrheal outcomes (OR = 0.58, 95% CI = 0.45-0.77, = 7). We found no evidence of a protective effect for helminthic infections. Although our study was limited by the use of self-reported boiling and non-experimental designs, the evidence suggests that boiling provides measureable health benefits for pathogens whose transmission routes are primarily water based. Consequently, we believe a randomized controlled trial of boiling adherence and health outcomes is needed.
Topics: Developing Countries; Diarrhea; Drinking Water; Food Contamination; Food Microbiology; Humans; Water Microbiology; Water Purification; Waterborne Diseases
PubMed: 29016318
DOI: 10.4269/ajtmh.17-0190 -
Dental Research Journal 2017The objective of this study was to systematically review prevalence of dental caries at different water fluoride levels and emphasize fluoride concentration of drinking... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
The objective of this study was to systematically review prevalence of dental caries at different water fluoride levels and emphasize fluoride concentration of drinking water and prevalence of dental caries.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
A comprehensive study was conducted using PubMed database. Inclusion criteria were predefined and some articles fulfilled these criteria. Study validity was assessed by some checklists. Surveys were conducted to determine prevalence of dental caries among individuals.
RESULTS
The heterogeneity in the group of children with deciduous teeth in terms of the amount of fluoride in drinking water and social class was significant, and the results of the studies in all the subgroups could not be pooled. However, the heterogeneity of group 2 for subjects with permanent teeth in terms of the fluoride level in drinking water and social class was not significant, and the results of the studies in each subgroup could be pooled together.
CONCLUSION
The meta-regression showed that tooth type and social class had a significant association with the difference in the prevalence of dental caries. Therefore, these variables were the sources of heterogeneity, and the studies must be grouped and subgrouped based on these variables.
PubMed: 28702056
DOI: 10.4103/1735-3327.208765 -
Journal of Water and Health Jun 2021The Joint Monitoring Programme (JMP) 2017 Update and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Baselines report classified 71% of the global population as having access to...
The Joint Monitoring Programme (JMP) 2017 Update and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Baselines report classified 71% of the global population as having access to 'safely managed' drinking water. Current global monitoring efforts to track access to safely managed drinking water rely on collecting information on the 'primary' source of drinking water. However, there is evidence that households often rely on multiple sources to meet their water needs in many low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). This systematic review was designed to compile the literature related to the practice of multiple water source use (MWSU) for drinking water in LMICs. A total of 5,318 studies were collected, and after abstract and full-text review, 74 articles were identified for inclusion. Studies reviewed reported from 4 to 100% of the study populations practicing MWSU. Additionally, the practice of supplemental unimproved source use was reported globally, representing households with improved primary source water also accessing unimproved water sources throughout the year. These findings expose gaps in current global water monitoring efforts, revealing potential inflation of reports of 'safe drinking water access' and unaccounted exposure to drinking water from unimproved sources.
Topics: Developing Countries; Drinking Water; Poverty; Water Quality; Water Supply
PubMed: 34152293
DOI: 10.2166/wh.2021.205 -
Tropical Medicine & International... Aug 2014To assess the impact of inadequate water and sanitation on diarrhoeal disease in low- and middle-income settings. (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
OBJECTIVE
To assess the impact of inadequate water and sanitation on diarrhoeal disease in low- and middle-income settings.
METHODS
The search strategy used Cochrane Library, MEDLINE & PubMed, Global Health, Embase and BIOSIS supplemented by screening of reference lists from previously published systematic reviews, to identify studies reporting on interventions examining the effect of drinking water and sanitation improvements in low- and middle-income settings published between 1970 and May 2013. Studies including randomised controlled trials, quasi-randomised trials with control group, observational studies using matching techniques and observational studies with a control group where the intervention was well defined were eligible. Risk of bias was assessed using a modified Ottawa-Newcastle scale. Study results were combined using meta-analysis and meta-regression to derive overall and intervention-specific risk estimates.
RESULTS
Of 6819 records identified for drinking water, 61 studies met the inclusion criteria, and of 12,515 records identified for sanitation, 11 studies were included. Overall, improvements in drinking water and sanitation were associated with decreased risks of diarrhoea. Specific improvements, such as the use of water filters, provision of high-quality piped water and sewer connections, were associated with greater reductions in diarrhoea compared with other interventions.
CONCLUSIONS
The results show that inadequate water and sanitation are associated with considerable risks of diarrhoeal disease and that there are notable differences in illness reduction according to the type of improved water and sanitation implemented.
Topics: Developing Countries; Diarrhea; Drinking Water; Humans; Income; Sanitation; Water Quality; Water Supply
PubMed: 24811732
DOI: 10.1111/tmi.12331 -
BMC Public Health Nov 2021Besides their benefits, heavy metals are toxic, persistent, and hazardous to human health, even at their lower concentrations. Consumption of unsafe concentrations of...
BACKGROUND
Besides their benefits, heavy metals are toxic, persistent, and hazardous to human health, even at their lower concentrations. Consumption of unsafe concentrations of food contaminated with heavy metals may lead to the disruption of numerous biological and biochemical processes in the human body. In developing country including Ethiopia, where untreated or partially treated wastewater is used for agricultural purposes, the problems related to the consumption foods contaminated with heavy metals may poses highest risk to human health. Therefore, this review was aimed to determine the public health implications of heavy metals in foods and drinking water in Ethiopia.
METHODS
The articles published from 2016 to 2020 were identified through systematic searches of electronic databases that include MEDLINE/PubMed, EMBASE, CINAH, Google Scholar, WHO, and FAO Libraries. The data was extracted using a predetermined data extraction form using Microsoft Excel, 2016. The methodological quality of the included studies was assessed using mixed methods appraisal tool (MMAT) version 2018 and Joanna Briggs Institute Critical Appraisal tools to determine the relevance of the studies. Finally, the results were evaluated based on the FAO/WHO guidelines for foods and drinking water.
RESULTS
A total of 1019 articles published from 2016 to 2020 were searched from various electronic databases and by manual searching on Google. Following the initial screening, 317 articles were retrieved for evaluation and 49 articles were assessed for eligibility, of which 21 studies were included in the systematic review. The mean concentration of Cr, Cd, Pb, As, Hg, Zn, Cu, Ni, Co, Fe and Mn in fruits and vegetables ranged from 2.068-4.29, 0.86-1.37, 1.90-4.70, 1.01-3.56, 3.43-4.23, 19.18-98.15, 4.39-9.42, 1.037-5.27, 0.19-1.0, 199.5-370.4, 0.26-869 mg/kg, respectively. The mean concentration Cr, Cd, Pb, As, Zn, and Fe in meat and milk ranged from 1.032-2.72, 0.233-0.72, 1.32-3.15, 0.79-2.96, 78.37-467.7, and 505.61-3549.9 mg/kg, respectively. The mean concentration of Cr, Cd, Pb, Zn, and Cu in drinking water ranged 0.0089-0.054, 0.02-0.0237, 0.005-0.369, 0.625-2.137, and 0.176-1.176 ml/L, respectively. The mean concentration of Cr, Cd, Pb, Zn, Cu, Ni, Co, Fe, and Mn in other edible cereals ranged from 0.973-2.165, 0.424-0.55, 0.65-1.70, 70.51-81.58, 14.123-15.98, 1.89-13.8, 1.06-1.59, 67.866-110.3, and 13.686-15.4 mg/kg, respectively.
CONCLUSION
This systematic review identified heavy metals in foods and drinking water and determined their public health implications. The results of this finding imply that the majority of the studies reported high concentrations of toxic heavy metals in foods and drinking water that are hazardous to human health. Therefore, effective food safety and risk-based food quality assessment are essential to protect the public health.
Topics: Drinking Water; Environmental Monitoring; Ethiopia; Humans; Metals, Heavy; Public Health; Risk Assessment; Soil Pollutants
PubMed: 34789222
DOI: 10.1186/s12889-021-12189-3 -
The Journal of Hospital Infection Jan 2014Pseudomonas aeruginosa is an opportunistic pathogen with a particular propensity to cause disease in the immunocompromised. Water systems have been reported to... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Pseudomonas aeruginosa is an opportunistic pathogen with a particular propensity to cause disease in the immunocompromised. Water systems have been reported to contribute to P. aeruginosa transmission in healthcare settings.
AIM
To systematically assess the evidence that healthcare water systems are associated with P. aeruginosa infection; to review aspects of design that can increase their potential to act as a reservoir; and to compare the efficacy of strategies for eradicating contamination and preventing infection.
METHODS
A rapid review methodology with a three-step search strategy was used to identify published studies. Scientific advisors were used to identify unpublished studies.
FINDINGS
Twenty-five relevant studies were included. There was plausible evidence of transmission of P. aeruginosa from water systems to patients and vice versa, although no direct evidence to explain the exact mode of transfer. Two studies provided plausible evidence for effective interventions: point-of-use filters and increasing chlorine disinfection. Non-touch taps and aspects of water system design were identified as probable risk factors for P. aeruginosa biofilm formation and subsequent transmission to patients. Poor hand hygiene or compliance with contact precautions were identified as potential contributory factors; plausible evidence to confirm this was not available.
CONCLUSIONS
Water systems can act as a source of P. aeruginosa infection in healthcare settings, although the route of transmission is unclear. Contamination appears to be confined to the distal ends of a water system and can persist for prolonged periods. Further studies are required to establish effective methods of preventing transmission and eradicating P. aeruginosa from plumbing systems.
Topics: Cross Infection; Drinking Water; Health Facilities; Humans; Pseudomonas Infections; Pseudomonas aeruginosa
PubMed: 24289866
DOI: 10.1016/j.jhin.2013.09.010 -
International Journal of Environmental... Mar 2024The prevalence of dementia increases with nearly 10 million new cases each year, with Alzheimer's disease contributing to 60-70% of cases. Environmental factors such as...
The prevalence of dementia increases with nearly 10 million new cases each year, with Alzheimer's disease contributing to 60-70% of cases. Environmental factors such as drinking water have been evaluated to determine if a relationship exists between trace elements in drinking water and the risk of developing cognitive disorders in the elderly. The purpose of the current systematic review was to evaluate an association between the composition of drinking water and cognitive function in the elderly. In accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analyses guidelines, a literature search was conducted using PubMed and CINAHL databases. A total of 10 studies were included in the current systematic review. Aluminum is the most commonly evaluated trace element in studies ( = 8), followed by silica ( = 5), calcium ( = 4), and fluoride ( = 4). Aluminum exposure showed an increased risk of cognitive decline in four studies, with no association reported in the other studies. Higher silica and pH levels were shown to be protective against a decline in cognitive function. A similar protective effect of calcium was found in two studies. Future research should measure multiple trace mineral levels in all water sources to evaluate the impact on cognitive function.
Topics: Aged; Humans; Aluminum; Calcium; Cognition; Cognitive Dysfunction; Drinking Water; Silicon Dioxide; Trace Elements
PubMed: 38541362
DOI: 10.3390/ijerph21030362