A beverage company advertises 'alkaline mineral water improves hydration and prevents chronic disease.' Which critical appraisal best evaluates this claim based on known evidence?

• A. The claim is correct only for infants and the elderly, where pH-modified water has been shown to double hydration efficiency and reduce disease incidence across randomized controlled trials
• B. The claim is fully supported: altering water pH is known to change cellular osmolality and permanently improve intracellular hydration and thereby prevents all major chronic illnesses
• C. The claim is likely overstated; while mineral content may change taste and contribute trace electrolytes, there is little high-quality evidence that alkalized or specialty waters provide clinically meaningful hydration benefits or prevent chronic disease beyond what plain water offers
• D. The claim is irrelevant because hydration status has no meaningful effect on chronic disease risk, which is driven exclusively by genetics and cannot be modified by beverages

Answer: (C)