Hydrogen Coral Calcium Improves Fatty Liver Disease in Mice Study
- Authors
- Hung-Tsung Wu, Chin-Shiang Tsai, Ting-Hsing Chao, Horng-Yih Ou, Liang-Miin Tsai
- Journal
- Antioxidants
- Year
- 2024
- DOI
- 10.3390/antiox13060746
- Study Type
- Mouse
- Outcome
- Positive
- Peer Reviewed
- Yes
- Country
- Taiwan
- Health Condition
- Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease
- Body System
- Digestive System
TL;DR
A special type of coral calcium enriched with hydrogen was found to help reduce liver fat and inflammation in mice with a liver disease similar to one found in humans that is not caused by alcohol.
Key Finding
Hydrogen-rich coral calcium reduced liver fat and inflammation in mice with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease by increasing antioxidant enzymes and altering gut bacteria to boost bile acid production.
Summary
Researchers tested a new supplement called hydrogen-rich coral calcium (HRCC) in mice with a type of liver disease called non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), which involves fat buildup in the liver. The supplement reduced liver fat accumulation, decreased inflammation, boosted the body's natural antioxidant defenses (substances that protect cells from damage), and changed the composition of gut bacteria in ways that increased bile acid production—a process that may help protect the liver.
Practical Takeaway
This early-stage mouse study suggests hydrogen-rich coral calcium may help with fatty liver disease through multiple mechanisms, but human studies are needed before any conclusions can be drawn about its usefulness for people. The convenience advantage over hydrogen-rich water is noted, but the actual health benefits for humans remain unknown.
Abstract
The prevalence of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has dramatically increased in recent years, and it is highly associated with metabolic diseases, as well as the development of hepatocellular carcinoma. However, effective therapeutic strategies for the treatment of NAFLD are still scarce. Although hydrogen-rich water shows beneficial effects for hepatic steatosis, the inconvenience limits the application of this antioxidant. In light of this, hydrogen-rich coral calcium (HRCC) was developed due to its convenience and quantifiable characteristics. However, the effects of HRCC on NAFLD are still unknown. In the present study, we found that HRCC treatment improved methionine-and-choline-deficient diet (MCD)-induced hepatic steatosis, increased aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase levels, and elevated hepatic inflammatory factor expressions in mice. In addition to the increased expressions of antioxidative enzymes, we found that HRCC increased the expressions of bile acid biosynthesis-related genes, including Cyp8b1 and Cyp27a1. Increased hepatic bile acid contents, such as muricholic acids, 23 nor-deoxycholic acid, glycoursodeoxycholic acid, and cholic acids, were also confirmed in MCD mice treated with HRCC. Since the biogenesis of bile acids is associated with the constitution of gut microbiome, the alterations in gut microbiome by HRCC were evaluated. We found that HRCC significantly changed the constitution of gut microbiome in MCD mice and increased the contents of Anaerobacterium, Acutalibacter, Anaerosacchariphilus, and Corynebacterium. Taken together, HRCC improved MCD-induced NAFLD through anti-inflammatory mechanisms and by increasing antioxidative activities. Additionally, HRCC might alter gut microbiome to change hepatic bile acid contents, exerting beneficial effects for the treatment of NAFLD.