Hydrogen Water Lowers Cholesterol in High-Fat Diet-Fed Hamsters
Administration of hydrogen-saturated saline decreases plasma low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels and improves high-density lipoprotein function in high-fat diet-fed hamsters
Research hubs: Cardiovascular System
This research was done in animals. Results in animals often don't carry over to people.
- Evidence type
- Animal study (hamster)
- Authors
- Chuanlong Zong, Guohua Song, Shutong Yao, Luqin Li, Yang Yu, Lei Feng, Shoudong Guo, Tian Luo, Shu-Cun Qin
- Journal
- Metabolism
- Year
- 2012
- PMID
- 22153840
- Study Type
- Hamster
- Delivery
- Saline (Dissolved)
- Dose
- 4-week intraperitoneal injection of hydrogen-saturated saline
- Duration
- 4 weeks
- Outcome
- Positive
- Peer Reviewed
- Yes
- Cited by
- 26 (OpenAlex, as of November 2026)
- Country
- China
TL;DR
Injecting hydrogen-saturated saline into hamsters on a high-fat diet lowered their bad cholesterol levels and improved the health and function of their good cholesterol.
Key Finding
Hydrogen-saturated saline injections reduced LDL cholesterol levels and improved HDL function in hamsters fed a high-fat diet.
Summary
Researchers gave hamsters on a high-fat diet injections of hydrogen-saturated saline (salt water containing dissolved hydrogen gas) for 4 weeks. They found that this treatment lowered the hamsters' LDL cholesterol (often called "bad" cholesterol) and improved the function of HDL cholesterol (often called "good" cholesterol). The HDL became better at removing excess cholesterol from cells and protecting against cholesterol oxidation (a process that damages cholesterol in the bloodstream).
Practical Takeaway
This is an early-stage animal study in hamsters, not humans, so results cannot be directly applied to people. While the findings suggest hydrogen may have potential benefits for cholesterol levels and heart health, much more research—including human trials—would be needed before drawing any conclusions about hydrogen water's effects on human health.
Abstract (excerpt)
Hydrogen (dihydrogen; H(2)) has an antiatherosclerotic effect in apolipoprotein (apo) E knockout mice. The goals of this study were to further characterize the effects of H(2) on the content, composition, and biological activities of plasma lipoproteins in golden hamsters. Plasma analysis…