Hydrogen Water Protected Stomach from Aspirin Damage in Rats
Dose-dependent inhibition of gastric injury by hydrogen in alkaline electrolyzed drinking water
Research hubs: Digestive System
This research was done in animals. Results in animals often don't carry over to people.
- Evidence type
- Animal study (rat)
- Authors
- Jinling Xue, Guodong Shang, Yoshinori Tanaka, Yasuhiro Saihara, Lingyan Hou, Natalia Velasquez, Wenjun Liu, Yun Lu
- Journal
- BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine
- Year
- 2014
- PMID
- 24589018
- Study Type
- Rat
- Delivery
- Water (Electrolysis)
- Dose
- Hydrogen-rich alkaline water for 2 weeks
- H₂ concentration
- 0.07, 0.22, and 0.84 ppm
- Duration
- 2 weeks
- Outcome
- Positive
- Peer Reviewed
- Yes
- Cited by
- 32 (OpenAlex, as of November 2026)
- Country
- China
TL;DR
Drinking hydrogen-rich water can reduce stomach damage caused by aspirin, and the more hydrogen in the water, the better the protective effect.
Key Finding
Hydrogen-rich alkaline water showed a dose-dependent protective effect against aspirin-induced stomach injury in rats, with optimal protection observed at hydrogen concentrations of 0.07–0.84 ppm at pH 8.5.
Summary
Researchers gave rats with aspirin-induced stomach damage hydrogen-rich alkaline water to drink for 2 weeks and measured the extent of stomach injury and markers of oxidative stress (cellular damage). They found that higher concentrations of hydrogen in the water provided greater protection against stomach damage, with the best results at hydrogen levels between 0.07 and 0.84 parts per million at a pH of 8.5. The protective effect appeared to work through antioxidant mechanisms (reducing harmful reactive molecules in cells).
Practical Takeaway
This rat study suggests that hydrogen-enriched water may help protect the stomach from aspirin-related damage, and that there may be an optimal hydrogen concentration for this effect. However, this is early animal research; human studies would be needed to determine whether these findings apply to people, and whether hydrogen water could actually prevent aspirin-related stomach problems in real-world use.
Abstract (excerpt)
Abstract Background Hydrogen has been reported to relieve damage in many disease models, and is a potential additive in drinking water to provide protective effects for patients as several clinical studies revealed. However, the absence of a dose–response relationship in the application of hydrogen…