Symposium Program

PRELIMINARY PROGRAM

For up-to-date program details including invited speakers, download the PDF file or Microsoft Word file here.

Monday, April 24

Session I: Opening Session
Welcome and Opening Remarks
Keynote speaker - invited

Session II: Dietary Minerals Consumption and Health
Basis for worldwide Recommended Daily Allowances for Calcium and Magnesium
Estimated average requirements for calcium and magnesium: data from human balance studies
Dietary intakes of calcium and magnesium: a comparison with dietary guidelines

Session III: Water as a Source of Dietary Minerals in World Regions
Water mineral composition characteristics (tap water, bottled, mineral, spring, desalinated) in the world regions
Water/fluid consumption patterns among the general populations and subpopulations including high-risk segments
Dietary magnesium intake and risk of cardiovascular disease among women
Contribution of drinking water to Ca and Mg intake in Europe

Session IV: Basis for Linking Magnesium, Calcium and Health Outcomes I
Cardiovascular effects of magnesium deficiency
Magnesium and hypertension
Measurement of magnesium status in humans

Poster Session and Reception

Tuesday, April 25

Session V: Controlled Human Exposure Studies of Magnesium and/or Calcium in Diet/Drinking Water
Indications of magnesium and calcium deficiency in populations
Calcium studies
Calcium and magnesium biochemical balance
Interactions of magnesium and potassium with other nutrients

Session VI: Basis for Linking Magnesium, Calcium and Health Outcomes II
Magnesium, calcium and osteoporosis
Magnesium and bone mineral density, hypertension and diabetes
Magnesium and the immune system

Session VII: Epidemiological Evidence Linking Drinking Water Components and Health -Cardiovascular and Other Diseases I
Overview of epidemiologic methods, strengths and weaknesses
Findings from the systematic review on water hardness and cardiovascular mortality and other effects
Magnesium and Calcium and CVD

Session VIII: Epidemiological Evidence Linking Drinking Water Components and Health - Cardiovascular and Other Diseases II
Studies in Eastern Europe
Detailed analysis of studies in Taiwan
A critique of the evidence

Wednesday, April 26

Session IX: Alternative Hypotheses and Knowledge Gaps
Alternative health effects interpretations
Toxic metals including those leached from pipe by corrosive water
Are there health consequences from long term consumption of low or high TDS water?
Studies needed to improve the database and interpretations

Session X: Water Production, Technical Issues and Economics
Business impacts of the ‘hard water benefits’ hypothesis
Technology of adding calcium and/or magnesium to public supplies, costs and feasibility
Feasibility/costs of mineral supplementation of bottled water and beverages
Benefits of water softening
Carbonate equilibrium and water balance

Session XI: Panel Discussion/Roundtable/Summaries/Conclusions