Water quality, mineral balance, and cardiovascular health: what the science actually says
Why we decided to look more closely at water and heart health
At Aqvita, many of our conversations with customers, partners, and health-focused communities start with a simple question: “What’s actually in the water we drink every day?”
Not just in terms of taste or filtration—but in terms of mineral composition, balance, and long-term relevance.
Because this question comes up so often, we decided to step back and do what we believe is essential: carefully review the scientific literature and share it transparently. For this article, Aqvita reviewed peer-reviewed epidemiological studies and a recent systematic review examining associations between drinking water hardness, magnesium, calcium, and cardiovascular outcomes.
This post is not about making health promises or shortcuts. It is about helping our community understand how researchers think about water quality, how mineral content is studied at population level, and why mineral balance in water continues to attract scientific interest—especially in a world where water is increasingly purified, softened, or desalinated.
With that context in mind, here is what decades of research actually show.
Water hardness and cardiovascular outcomes: consistent epidemiological signals
Since the 1950s, researchers have investigated whether the mineral content of drinking water—commonly described as water hardness—is associated with cardiovascular disease outcomes. Water hardness mainly reflects the presence of calcium (Ca²⁺) and magnesium (Mg²⁺).
A recent systematic review and meta-analysis published in Foods (2023) analyzed multiple observational studies conducted across Europe and other regions. Many of these studies reported lower cardiovascular mortality rates in populations supplied with harder water, compared to regions with very soft water.
Importantly, the authors also highlight substantial variability between studies. Differences in diet, lifestyle, healthcare access, socioeconomic factors, and water treatment practices make it impossible to draw simple conclusions. As emphasized throughout the review, these findings describe associations, not causation.
The key takeaway is not that hard water “prevents” heart disease, but that water composition repeatedly appears as a variable of interest in population-level cardiovascular research.
Magnesium appears to play a central role
Looking beyond total hardness, several studies have examined individual minerals more closely—particularly magnesium.
One well-known ecological study from Finland analyzed calcium, magnesium, and their ratio in local groundwater, comparing these data with the incidence of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) in rural populations. The results showed that higher magnesium concentrations in drinking water were statistically associated with lower AMI incidence, while calcium alone did not show a significant protective association.
Interestingly, the study also found that a higher calcium-to-magnesium ratio in water was associated with higher AMI risk. This suggests that mineral balance—not just absolute mineral levels—may matter when researchers evaluate water composition.
As with all ecological studies, the authors stress important limitations: individual water consumption was not measured directly, and many confounding factors remain. Still, these findings align with a broader scientific interest in magnesium intake and cardiovascular physiology.
Water as a contributor, not a cure
It is essential to interpret these findings responsibly.
Cardiovascular health depends on a complex interaction of genetics, diet, physical activity, smoking status, stress, and broader environmental factors. Drinking water is only one contributor to mineral intake, and no regulatory authority in the European Union recognizes health claims linking drinking water minerals to the prevention or treatment of cardiovascular disease.
What the scientific literature does suggest, however, is that water is consumed daily, often in significant volumes, and therefore can meaningfully contribute to overall mineral intake, especially for magnesium—a nutrient that many Western diets fail to provide in sufficient quantities.
From a public-health perspective, this makes water composition an interesting variable to study, even if it is not a standalone solution.
Modern water treatment and the question of remineralization
Today, many households rely on advanced water treatment technologies such as softening, reverse osmosis, or desalination. These systems are highly effective at improving microbiological safety and removing unwanted substances.
However, they often produce very low-mineral water unless minerals are deliberately added back afterward.
This raises a reasonable and increasingly discussed question:
If water is part of daily mineral intake, should its mineral composition be considered more intentionally—especially after intensive purification?
Scientific literature does not provide a single answer, but it clearly shows sustained research interest in calcium, magnesium, and mineral balance in drinking water.
Aqvita’s approach: restoring mineral composition, responsibly
Aqvita’s technology was developed in this context.
Our solutions are designed to enhance water hardness and magnesium content in a precise and controlled way, inspired by the mineral profiles of naturally mineralized waters. The objective is not to position water as a medical intervention, but to restore mineral composition in purified or softened water while maintaining taste quality and consistency.
By using bicarbonate-based calcium and magnesium formulations, Aqvita focuses on mineral forms that are well documented in natural waters—without relying on pills, powders, or bottled water.
This approach reflects a broader principle found throughout the scientific literature: water quality is not only about what is removed, but also about what is thoughtfully reintroduced.
Looking ahead
The relationship between water composition and cardiovascular health remains an active and evolving field of research. Current evidence supports continued investigation into magnesium, calcium, and mineral balance in drinking water, while consistently emphasizing the need for well-designed studies and cautious interpretation.
For Aqvita, reviewing and sharing this research is part of a broader commitment: helping our community make informed decisions about water, grounded in science rather than marketing claims.
One conclusion is already clear—water is more than H₂O, and its mineral composition deserves careful, evidence-based consideration.
Important clarification
This article reviews scientific literature and discusses observed associations at population level.
It does not claim that drinking mineralized water prevents, treats, or reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease.
Aqvita products are not medical products and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent disease.
Individual health outcomes depend on many factors, including diet, lifestyle, genetics, and overall water consumption.
Literature references
Kousa, A. et al. (2006). Calcium:Magnesium Ratio in Local Groundwater and Incidence of Acute Myocardial Infarction among Males in Rural Finland.
Environmental Health Perspectives, 114(5), 730–734.Bykowska-Derda, A. et al. (2023). The Relationship between Mortality from Cardiovascular Diseases and Total Drinking Water Hardness: Systematic Review with Meta-Analysis.
Foods, 12, 3255.