Hydrogen Gas Protects Liver from Chemical Damage in Rat Study
A Preliminary Study on the Effect of Hydrogen Gas on Alleviating Early CCl4-Induced Chronic Liver Injury in Rats
Research hubs: Digestive System
- Evidence type
- Animal study (rat)
- Authors
- Jianwei Wang, Quancheng Cheng, Jinyu Fang, Huiru Ding, Huaicun Liu, Xuan Fang, Chunhua Chen, Weiguang Zhang
- Journal
- Antioxidants
- Year
- 2021
- DOI
- 10.3390/antiox10121933
- Study Type
- Rat
- Outcome
- Positive
- Peer Reviewed
- Yes
- Country
- China
- Health Condition
- Chronic Liver Injury
- Body System
- Hepatic
This research was done in animals. Results in animals often don't carry over to people.
TL;DR
Breathing in hydrogen gas reduced liver damage and fat buildup in rats with early signs of liver injury, possibly by increasing levels of a protective protein in the liver.
Key Finding
Hydrogen gas inhalation reduced fat accumulation in rat liver cells damaged by CCl4 and increased levels of a protective protein (UCP2) in liver tissue.
Summary
Researchers gave rats a toxic chemical (CCl4) that damages the liver, then exposed some rats to hydrogen gas to see if it would help. They found that hydrogen gas reduced fat buildup in liver cells and increased a protective protein called UCP2, suggesting hydrogen may protect liver cells by reducing harmful molecules called free radicals.
Practical Takeaway
This is an early-stage animal study showing hydrogen gas may help protect liver cells from chemical damage, but it was only tested in rats. Much more research, including human studies, would be needed before any conclusions could be drawn about hydrogen water's effects on human liver health.
Abstract (excerpt)
As a small-molecule reductant substance, hydrogen gas has an obvious antioxidant function. It can selectively neutralize hydroxyl radicals (•OH) and peroxynitrite (ONOO•) in cells, reducing oxidative stress damage. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of hydrogen gas (3%)…