Hydrogen Water Reduces Hidden Blood Loss After Surgery in Rats
- Authors
- Hong Qian, Tao Yuan, Jian Tong, Wen Shuang Sun, Jiajia Jin, Wen Xiang Chen, Jia Meng, Nirong Bao, Jianning Zhao
- Journal
- Turkish Journal of Hematology
- Year
- 2017
- DOI
- 10.4274/tjh.2016.0469
- Study Type
- Rat
- Outcome
- Positive
- Peer Reviewed
- Yes
- Country
- China
- Health Condition
- Hidden Blood Loss
- Body System
- Circulatory
TL;DR
Antioxidants like proanthocyanidin and hydrogen water may help reduce hidden blood loss after knee or hip surgery by fighting oxidative stress.
Key Finding
In rats, hydrogen water and proanthocyanidin both reduced hidden blood loss by decreasing oxidative stress and improving hemoglobin and red blood cell levels.
Summary
Researchers studied whether hydrogen water and another antioxidant could reduce hidden blood loss—blood that is lost internally but not visibly—in rats. They created a rat model of hidden blood loss and treated some animals with hydrogen water or the antioxidant proanthocyanidin. Both treatments improved red blood cell counts, hemoglobin levels (the protein that carries oxygen in blood), and reduced markers of oxidative stress (cellular damage from unstable molecules).
Practical Takeaway
This is an early-stage rat study suggesting hydrogen water may help reduce hidden blood loss after surgery by fighting oxidative stress. However, this finding has not been tested in humans, and the study's small animal model may not translate directly to people. More research is needed before any clinical recommendations can be made.
Abstract
Objective: Hidden blood loss (HBL), commonly seen after total knee or hip arthroplasty, causes postoperative anemia even after reinfusion or blood transfusion based on the visible blood loss volume. Recent studies demonstrated that oxidative stress might be involved in HBL. However, whether the antioxidants proanthocyanidin (PA) or hydrogen water (HW) can ameliorate HBL remains poorly understood. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of PA and HW on HBL. Materials and methods: A rat HBL model was established through administration of linoleic acid with or without treatment with PA or HW. The levels of hemoglobin (Hb), red blood cell (RBC) count, superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, glutathione peroxidase (GSH-PX) activity, malondialdehyde (MDA), and ferryl Hb were measured. Results: RBC and Hb values as well as the activity of SOD and GSH-PX were reduced after administration of linoleic acid, which was ameliorated by treatment with PA or HW. In addition, the quantity of MDA was significantly decreased with the administration of PA or HW. Conclusion: PA and HW could ameliorate HBL in a rat model by reducing oxidative stress, suggesting that they might be used as a novel therapeutic approach in the prophylaxis or treatment of HBL in clinics.