Hydrogen Water Linked to Kidney Protection in Rats
Consumption of hydrogen-rich water protects against ferric nitrilotriacetate-induced nephrotoxicity and early tumor promotional events in rats
This research was done in animals. Results in animals often don't carry over to people.
- Evidence type
- Animal study (rat)
- Authors
- Fang-Yin Li, Shao-Xing Zhu, Zong-Ping Wang, Hua Wang, Yang Zhao, Gui-Ping Chen
- Journal
- Food and Chemical Toxicology
- Year
- 2013
- PMID
- 24140467
- Study Type
- Rat
- Delivery
- Water (Dissolved)
- Dose
- Hydrogen-rich water consumption (1.3 ± 0.2 mg/l) concurrent with Fe-NTA injection
- H₂ concentration
- 1.3 ± 0.2 mg/l
- Outcome
- Positive
- Peer Reviewed
- Yes
- Cited by
- 45 (OpenAlex, as of November 2026)
- Country
- China
TL;DR
Drinking hydrogen-rich water reduced kidney damage and lowered the risk of early signs of cancer in rats treated with a harmful substance.
Key Finding
In rats exposed to a kidney-damaging toxin, hydrogen-rich water reduced kidney injury markers, suppressed inflammatory responses, and decreased the incidence of kidney cancer.
Summary
Researchers gave rats a toxic chemical (ferric nitrilotriacetate) that damages the kidneys and causes cancer, then treated some rats with hydrogen-rich water. The rats drinking hydrogen-rich water showed less kidney damage, reduced markers of inflammation and oxidative stress (cellular damage from unstable molecules), and developed fewer kidney tumors compared to untreated rats.
Practical Takeaway
This rat study suggests hydrogen-rich water may have protective effects against oxidative stress and inflammation in the kidneys. However, this is animal research only—results in rats do not automatically translate to humans—and much more research, including human trials, would be needed before any health claims could be made.
Abstract (excerpt)
The aim of this work was to test whether consumption with hydrogen-rich water (HW) alleviated renal injury and inhibited early tumor promotional events in Ferric nitrilotriacetate (Fe-NTA)-treated rats. Rats were injected with Fe-NTA solution (7.5mg Fe/kg body weight) intraperitoneally to induce…