Hydrogen Water Prevents Artery Aging in Heart Disease Study
- Authors
- Masumi Iketani, Kanako Sekimoto, Tsutomu Igarashi, Mayumi Takahashi, Masaki Komatsu, Iwao Sakane, Hiroshi Takahashi, Hideo Kawaguchi, Ritsuko Ohtani-Kaneko, Ikuroh Ohsawa
- Journal
- Scientific Reports
- Year
- 2018
- DOI
- 10.1038/s41598-018-35239-0
- Study Type
- Mouse
- Outcome
- Positive
- Peer Reviewed
- Yes
- Country
- Japan
- Health Condition
- Atherosclerosis
- Body System
- Cardiovascular
TL;DR
Drinking hydrogen-rich water may slow down blood vessel aging and reduce heart disease risk in mice on a high-fat diet.
Key Finding
Hydrogen-rich water reduced markers of cellular aging and inflammation in the aortas of atherosclerosis-prone mice, suggesting it may slow vascular aging.
Summary
Researchers studied whether hydrogen-rich water could slow aging of blood vessels in mice genetically prone to atherosclerosis (a buildup of plaque in arteries). Mice on a high-fat diet that drank hydrogen-rich water showed fewer aging cells in their aortas (the main artery from the heart), less immune cell infiltration, and lower inflammation compared to mice drinking regular water. This suggests hydrogen-rich water may help prevent the progression of atherosclerosis through its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects.
Practical Takeaway
This is an early-stage animal study showing potential benefits of hydrogen-rich water for vascular health, but results from mouse models do not automatically translate to humans. Much larger and longer human studies would be needed to determine whether hydrogen-rich water has similar protective effects on blood vessel aging in people.
Abstract (excerpt)
The main cause of arteriosclerosis is atherosclerosis in the aorta. Atherosclerosis is recognized as a chronic inflammatory condition that begins with the dysfunction or activation of arterial endothelium. Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and especially its oxidized form play a key role in endothelial…