Refined Deep Seawater Improves Serum Lipid Profile in Hypercholesterolemia: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Clinical Trial

Deep seawater (DSW) has been investigated for its lipid-lowering effects, but clinical evidence is still far from conclusive. Therefore, this study was conducted to examine the effects of refined DSW (RDSW) on hypercholesterolemia. In this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, 78 Korean participants were randomized to either an RDSW group that drank RDSW for 8 weeks or a placebo group. Clinical laboratory information was collected from all subjects at 0, 4, and 8 weeks. Both groups showed a significant reduction in total cholesterol (TC), whereas only the RDSW group demonstrated a significant decrease in low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-c) during the study. Stratified analysis of both groups revealed a significant reduction of TC in the moderately high TC subgroup. However, only the RDSW exhibited a significant decline of LDL-c in the high LDL-c subgroup. In addition, lipoprotein(a) decreased significantly in the RDSW group, but not in the placebo. RDSW did not affect other lipid profiles, including high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-c), triglyceride, free fatty acid, apolipoproteins, and other markers including inflammation marker, hematological parameters, blood and urine chemistry, and vital signs. RDSW improved lipid profiles by decreasing TC and LDL-c while maintaining HDL-c levels in people with hypercholesterolemia.