Update January 1, 2024. ASEA water, a cell signaling supplement, contains trillions of stable, perfectly balanced Redox Signaling Molecules suspended in a pristine saline solution. From the moment I first heard of this supplement, I was intrigued because “redox” is a word that takes me back to college chemistry class. In this ASEA review, I'll look at the research and science on ASEA and help you figure out if it's right for you. I'll also address some of the things people say this supplement can do, too. This is an unbiased review. I do not work for the company.
1 What Is ASEA Redox Signaling?
OK, so how does ASEA work? At the heart of this supplement (pronounced “ah see ah”) is something called Redox Signaling. Let's talk about what Redox signaling is.
The word Redox refers to two words – reduction and oxidation.
- “Red” is a reference to reduction
- “Ox” is a reference to oxidation
In the world of science, reduction and oxidation are used to refer to things that transfer electrons (negatively charged particles).
- Electrons carry a negative electrical charge.
- When a molecule or atom receives an electron, its overall electrical charge is REDuced (it becomes more negatively charged).
- When a molecule or atom has electrons removed from it, it's said to be OXidized. (it becomes more positively charged)
So, Redox signaling is about using electrons to transfer signals (information) between molecules and atoms. This information can result in good stuff or bad stuff happening.
2 Redox Signaling In Plain English
Redox signaling is a way for atoms and molecules to talk to each other by transferring electrons. They communicate by using antioxidants and free radicals. Here's how it works:
- Free radicals remove electrons. This is also called Reduction
- Antioxidants donate electrons. This is also called Oxidation
By adding and removing electrons, information can be transmitted.
It's through reduction and oxidation we get the term ReDox reaction. During redox reactions, electrons are transferred from one thing to another. This transfer of electrons also transfers information. Basically, this helps atoms/molecules “talk” to each other.
Simply put, redox signaling occurs by the interaction between antioxidants and free radicals.
3 ASEA Water Ingredients
The product website has said the supplement is made of “trillions of stable, perfectly balanced Redox Signaling molecules suspended in a pristine saline solution.”
The saline solution is a reference to salt water. This is why some people online say that ASEA is just expensive salt water. I'll let others make that judgment as I'm primarily interested in the research on this stuff.
They say the redox signaling molecules are grouped into two types:
- Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS)
- Reduced Species (RS)
Let's translate these names:
- Reactive Oxygen Species are basically free radicals
- Reduced Species are basically antioxidants
4 ASEA Water Research
The ASEA company commissioned a genetic testing company called Taueret Laboratories to perform a study. It was called “Initial Gene Study Showed ASEA REDOX Affected Important Signaling Pathway Genes.” The science is complicated so let's just summarize it:
ASEA Genetics Study Summary
This investigation lasted 2 months and involved 60 people who were split into 3 groups:
- ASEA group (25 people). They drank ASEA water
- Placebo group (25 people). They drink salt water
- Control group: (10 people). They didn't drink either ASEA or salt water
The company's summary shows that most of the people were white women with an average age of 35.
ASEA Water Study Results
Researchers noted that 5 genes involved in cell signaling changed their expression by 20-31%.
This is very interesting, but there are a couple of problems:
- They didn't say how they changed. I assume it was in a good way.
- The study doesn't appear to be published in a medical journal.
Why isn't this investigation published in a medical journal?
Watch this ASEA video below:
At 55 seconds into this video, Dr. Jeffrey Mocny of the ASEA science counsel states, “ASEA is dedicated to performing the highest quality science in the field.” To me, “highest quality science” means publishing your research in a medical journal.
ASEA Exercise Study
In 2012, researchers at Appalachian State University published the results of an exercise study that used ASEA water. The title of the study was the Influence of a redox-signaling supplement on biomarkers of physiological stress in athletes: a metabolomics approach. Let's summarize this research and the results:
Study Summary
The study lasted 1 week. Twenty people rode a stationary bike as fast as they could for 46 miles (75 km). They were given either 4 oz of ASEA water or 4 oz of a placebo drink each day for a week before the cycling test and 16 oz of ASEA (or placebo) during the test. Blood samples were taken before, immediately after exercise, and one hour after exercise to see what happened.
Study Results:
- ASEA did not help people ride the bike any faster compared to the placebo.
- ASEA did not reduce exercise-induced inflammation compared to the placebo.
- ASEA did not reduce exercise-induced oxidative stress compared to the placebo.
- ASEA did not alter exercise-induced changes in immune function compared to placebo.
The study does note “ASEA supplementation caused a significant shift in 43 metabolites” before exercise occurred. These metabolites included free fatty acids and vitamin C. While this is interesting, remember the supplement didn’t help people ride the bike any faster.
These researchers also note free fatty acids and vitamin C were made more available before exercise. That is interesting too, but what about during exercise? There is no mention of fatty acid availability during exercise. If the fatty acids were increased during exercise, ASEA water might improve exercise endurance.
I hope this study is replicated to determine fatty acid use during exercise.
Study Problems:
While this investigation is listed in a science journal, it appears as an abstract. Abstracts are summaries of the research that do not necessarily have to go through the peer-review process. The lack of peer review decreases the significance of abstracts, in my view.
ASEA Water-Mouse Study
In this investigation, mice have force-fed ASEA water or a placebo for 7 days prior to running to exhaustion. Basically, the mice getting the supplement ran about 29% longer than the mice getting the placebo. This is very interesting, but it’s a mouse study.
5 Other ASEA Water Research
The Science page of the company's website is used to list 9 additional pieces of evidence. Below is a summary of each, along with my opinions of them.
1. ASEA Safety Studies Summary
This paper is also titled ASEA Ingestion, Safety, Summary from Human Studies North Carolina Research Campus Human Performance Laboratory.
This study looked at how the supplement was tolerated in 106 overweight people who drank 4 oz per day for 12 weeks compared to a placebo.
Results. There were no side effects reported compared to the placebo group. ASEA water had no effect on cholesterol levels, blood sugar levels or CRP levels. There was no mention of whether the people lost weight.
Possible Problems
- This does not appear to be a published, peer-reviewed study.
2. PNNL Safety Report
This paper is titled Data from an In vitro Study Relating to Product Safety (PNNL stands for Pacific North West National Laboratory). This was basically a test tube study. ASEA did not result in any toxicity when cells were exposed to it. That's good.
Possible Problems
- This does not appear to be a published, peer-reviewed study.
3. Reactive Molecules Verification
This paper is also titled “Verification Procedure for Reactive Molecules in ASEA.”
This is a paper that discusses the quality control used to make ASEA water. I'm happy they have quality control measures in place. That says a lot about the company.
4. ASEA Water Antioxidant Efficiency
This paper is titled “Report For ASEA on Experimental Results-In Vitro Antioxidant Enhancement and Oxidative Stress Reduction.
This paper describes how cell cultures treated with ASEA showed improvements in the antioxidant enzymes, superoxide dismutase (SOD), and glutathione peroxidase (GPX).
Possible Problems
- This does not appear to be a published, peer-reviewed study
- This is a test tube study
- Effects in cell cultures do not necessarily mean the same thing occurs in humans
5. ASEA Water Athletics Study
This paper is titled “Report to ASEA on VO2max Athletic Endurance Enhancement Testing.”
In this investigation, 17 athletes were tested for aerobic capacity before and after 2 weeks of taking the supplement each day. Results showed that athletes their aerobic capacity after taking the supplement.
Possible Problems
- This does not appear to be a published, peer-reviewed study
- They don't tell us what kind of athletes these were (runners, weight lifters, etc.)
- There was no placebo group to compare the results to
- The study speaks of “significant trends,” but they don't say if the improvements were clinically significant.
6. ASEA Water Metabolite Findings FAQ
This is a paper summarizing frequently asked questions about the exercise study of 20 people conducted at Appalachian State University. I summarized this study above in the Research section.
Possible Problems
- This does not appear to be a published, peer-reviewed study.
7. ASEA Water Research Summary Presentation
This is titled “ASEA Metabolomics.” This is the human exercise study summarized above.
8. White Paper on the Effect of an Immune-Supporting Supplement, ASEA, on Athletic Performance based on a Pilot VO2max Test
In this paper, the supplement improved aerobic and anaerobic exercise performance in 18 well-conditioned men and women who rode a bike or ran on a treadmill.
Possible Problems
- There is no placebo group
- This does not appear to be a published, peer-reviewed study
9. White paper: Bioactivity of ASEA™ Related to Toxicity, Glutathione Peroxidase, Superoxide Dismutase Efficacy and Related Transcription Factors
Possible Problems:
- This is a test tube study
- This does not appear to be a published, peer-reviewed study
6 Where To Buy ASEA Water
The redox-signaling water supplement is not sold in stores like Walmart, Target, Walgreens, or CVS. It can be obtained directly from an ASEA associate.
One thing I noticed was there didn't seem to be a way for people to order ASEA directly from the company website (AseaGlobal.com). This is good because it means the company is not in competition with associates who sell it. This also says a lot about the company.
7 How Much Is ASEA
The cost depends on whether you are an associate or not. If you want to use it yourself (and not sell it), then the price is around $150 per month. The cost may also depend on whether you take advantage of their auto-shipment program. Associates likely get discounts. When in doubt, ask an associate for to get the lowest cost.
8 ASEA And Exercise
Does ASEA water help people exercise better? Let's just say I'm skeptical right now. We currently have a mouse study that hints it might work and a human study showing it doesn't. ASEA water is NSF Certified. This is good news for athletes. NSF (NSF.org) is a company that guarantees supplements contain what their labels indicate. Athletes who undergo random drug testing often prefer supplements that have NSF certification.
9 Can ASEA Water Help Weight Loss
Other than it being low in calories, I don't think so. Claims about the supplement helping people burn fat appear to come from the human exercise study summarized above. In that investigation, it was noted that people who drank 4 oz of ASEA per day for a week had a greater release of fatty acids (triglycerides) at rest. But remember burning fat and losing weight don't always equate to each other. For most people, burning calories is more important than burning fat.
Remember also that this was an exercise study, not a weight-loss study. The researchers did not state the people lost weight. Based on this we can assume they probably didn't.
Researchers at the University of North Carolina completed a study investigating if supplements raised metabolic rate. This study was completed in 2013 but no results have been released. As of 2023, no study results have been released.
10 Can ASEA Water Help People With Cancer?
There is no evidence that ASEA water can cure cancer or prevent it from occurring. This is also true for other diseases too, including heart disease, diabetes, Autism, arthritis, eczema, Acne, Lyme disease, tinnitus, dementia, fibromyalgia, and blindness. No clinical research could be located that proves this ionized water beverage improves any health condition. While there are testimonials of people who report impressive results (see the comments section), there is no clinical proof for any of it for now.
I lost parents of my parents to cancer (less than 3 months from each other). I know how scary a cancer diagnosis can be. It's normal to look for answers. I see no good proof that drinking Redox water will improve cancer outcomes.
11 Can ASEA Water Improve Scars On The Skin and Face?
No research appears to show if the supplement helps scars heal faster, fade, or disappear. It may or may not. There seems to be no evidence either way.
12 Can ASEA Water Raise Glutathione
Glutathione is an antioxidant compound that tends to decline as we get older. Some have said ASEA can raise glutathione levels by over 500%. I can find no evidence in humans for this statement. Watch this video to learn how to raise your glutathione levels.
13 Can ASEA Water Help Your Hair Grow?
There appears to be no evidence either way of the supplement promoting hair growth or reversing gray hair. For more on hair growth, see these reviews:
- Viviscal Review
- Viviscal vs. Nutrafol Review
- Can Peppermint Oil Grow Hair?
- Hair Growth Supplement Videos
14 ASEA vs. The Competition
Many supplements promise to help us age gracefully. Here's how this supplement compares to some of the more popular supplements out there:
ASEA Water vs. Neora
The Neora company (formally Nerium) has a supplement called Neora EHT. That supplement has an extract from coffee (called EHT) which is touted to improve memory. No studies have compared ASEA to Neora EHT to see how they compare to each other. Like ASEA, Neora also has some research to support its effects.
See the Nerium /Neora EHT review
ASEA Water vs. Protandim
Protandim is probably the most well-known anti-aging supplement on Earth. It's been around many years and if you count up the research, it has more clinical studies than probably any anti-aging supplement on the market. Protandim is said to help the body ramp up its own production of antioxidant defenses.
In a way, this is somewhat similar to ASEA but there is no talk of redox signaling with Protandim. There is also no research comparing these supplements to each other.
ASEA vs. Tru Niagen (Nicotinamide Riboside)
Tru Niagen is a very popular anti-aging supplement. Tru Niagen contains a nicotinamide riboside, a form of niacin (vitamin B3). This compound is said to slow aging by helping our cells make an energy molecule called NAD, which declines as we get older. So far there is no evidence ASEA water raises cellular NAD levels. Likewise, researchers have not compared ASEA water to Tru Niagen.
ASEA Water vs. Kangen Water
Kangen water is produced by Kangen water machines, made by the Enagic company, a company based in Japan but which sells their machines worldwide. Kangen water machines use electrolysis to make water more alkaline. The pH of Kangian drinking water ranges from 8.5 to 9.5. The alkaline water is what most people think of as Kangen water.
The pH of ASEA water is 7.35. Since a pH of 7 is neutral, this means ASEA water is slightly alkaline but less so than Kangen water. So what's better? There are no comparative studies to see if either water has benefits over the other.
Is ASEA Water The Same As Miricle Mineral Solution?
The Miracle Mineral Solution (MMS) is a mixture of sodium chlorite and an acid, such as citric acid.
It is a controversial product that has been marketed as a treatment for various health conditions, including but not limited to cancer, malaria, and autism. However, strong evidence for its effectiveness is lacking. ASEA Water is not the same thing as MMS.
15 Is ASEA Water Approved by the FDA?
It is true that the Food and Drug Administration regulates dietary supplements. This is because of the law known as the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act that went into effect in 1994. However, regulation and approval are not the same things. While penalties can be imposed on companies that don't follow the rules, the FDA does not approve dietary supplements before they are sold to the public.
16 How Do You Take ASEA Water?
Drink about 4 oz per day. You can drink it on an empty stomach or with food.
17 Who Makes ASEA Water?
ASEA Water is a product of ASEA LLC, a multilevel marketing business that began in 2007. The company address is 6550 Millrock Dr. Ste 100, Salt Lake City, UT 84121-6000. The business website is AseaGlobal.com.
The Better Business Bureau gives ASEA LLC a rating of “A+” and the company is accreted with the BBB. No customer complaints were logged with the BBB against the company, which is rare for a corporation that has been around as long as ASEA has.
18 Contact ASEA
- The Better Business Bureau lists a contact number of (801) 928-2001
- Another phone number is 888-438-5971
- The Associate Support number of 801-973-7499
19 ASEA Lawsuits
Despite claims of this, no FDA warning letters or lawsuits in the US could be located. This may indicate the company is complying with US supplement regulation guidelines.
20 ASEA Side Effects
My guess is this supplement is pretty safe for most people. I'm not aware of any side effects from using the product. Some people online I saw said it didn't taste good but that is something we all have to decide for ourselves. The supplement does have some salt, but the company website states the amount of salt is less than a carrot has.
General suggestions for all supplements:
- Start with less than suggested for the first week to see how you respond
- Talk to your doctor if you are pregnant/breastfeeding
- Stop taking at least 2 weeks before having surgery
- Talk to your doctor if you take any medicine like blood thinners
When looking at ASEA testimonials, some people say some pretty amazing things ranging from the product improving energy levels and reducing arthritis pain to even speeding recovery after a stroke. And then there are those who said the product did nothing for them. As with anything, the results you experience may vary.
21 ASEA Renew 28
This is a skin cleanser. It contains an ingredient called sodium magnesium fluorosilicate (also called Hectorite), a scrubbing agent used in various cosmetics. The company states a European dermatology company -Dermatest – tested Renew 28 in 20 women for 28 days. The women said they saw:
- 21% Improvement in wrinkles
- 20% increased skin elasticity
- 23% improvement in overall wrinkles
- 22% improvement in facial skin texture
- 23% improved skin smoothness
- 11% increase in skin moisture
Notice the women used the product for 28 days. This is where “Renew 28” gets its name from.
In another study, which lasted 12 weeks, the product was said to improve cellulite.
It is unknown if either of these studies has been published in medical journals. If they are not, then this reduces their importance, in my opinion.
See the review of Joyome by Plexus Slim
22 Does ASEA Work?
For the moment, I'm not going to say ASEA is a rip-off or a scam. While I'm skeptical about the ASEA claims and clinical research, I'm going to take the high road and say let's wait for better research. I'm not impressed with the evidence presented so far, but I am willing to wait for future clinical studies.
