Abstract
Zamzam water is the most frequently used drinking water by millions of people in Saudi Arabia. It is carried all the time by millions of pilgrims to their home countries as gifts to close and near relatives and friends. Safety of constituents of Zamzam water is a vital health topic. British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) raised many health concerns regarding the high serum arsenic and nitrate contents in Zamzam water that may cause cancer. It is role of scientific research to present scientific facts to relieve such concerns. Arsenic is a carcinogen while nitrate causes methemogloinemia that affect oxygen carriage by haemoglobin. An ethical committee approval was obtained. Eighteen white albino mice (40-45 g) were used in this study. Three experimental groups were allocated (six mice per group): tap water group, distilled water group and Zamzam water group. Our data revealed that Zamzam water exerts tissue-protective effects that contradict malignancy. Our data proved that Zamzam water is pathogen-free causing no bacterial growth on CLED agar colonies. Zamzam water consumption for three consecutive months in mice was quite safe for the general health and significantly decreased serum uric acid (
p
< 0.05) (possibly due to Zamzam-induced urine alkalinisation facilitating uric acid excretion). Regular Zamzam water consumption significantly decreased serum cholesterol (
p
< 0.05) and serum triglycerides (
p
< 0.05). Hypolipidemic effects of Zamzam water may be due to its high mineral content facilitating increased lipids metabolism. Our data confirmed safety of prolonged use of Zamzam water comparable to other drinking water types regarding the metabolic and synthetic functions of the liver. Nitrates in Zamzam water are thought to be an original constituent that may be useful (exerting vasodilation, antithrombotic, and immunoregulatory effects) and not harmless. This may occur due to high Zamzam content of calcium, magnesium and selenium. Histologically, our data confirmed that Zamzam water was quite safe to renal parenchyma and comparable to other types of drinking water. In conclusion, health concerns raised by BBC regarding Zamzam water safety were a good chance for fruitful scientific research investigations that confirmed safety and beneficial effects of Zamzam water for human health.