Electrolyzed Water Speeds Wound Healing in Animal Study
Effect of electrolyzed water on wound healing
Research hubs: Skin & Dermatology System
This research was done in animals. Results in animals often don't carry over to people.
- Evidence type
- Animal study (rat)
- Authors
- Naoki Yahagi, Masashi Kono, Masaki Kitahara, Akito Ohmura, Osao Sumita, Toshimasa Hashimoto, Katsuaki Hori, Chen Ning‐Juan, Paul Woodson, Shoji Kubota, Arata Murakami, Shinichi Takamoto
- Journal
- Artificial Organs
- Year
- 2000
- PMID
- 11121980
- Study Type
- Rat
- Delivery
- Water (Electrolysis)
- Outcome
- Positive
- Peer Reviewed
- Yes
- Cited by
- 57 (OpenAlex, as of November 2026)
- Country
- Japan
TL;DR
Water from the positive side of an electrolysis setup sped up skin wound healing in rats, but it wasn't because of its usual germ-killing abilities.
Key Finding
Anode chamber electrolyzed water accelerated full-thickness wound healing in rats through a mechanism independent of hypochlorous acid, likely involving reactive oxygen species that stimulate fibroblast activity.
Summary
Researchers tested electrolyzed water (water treated with electrical current) on wound healing in rats. They found that water from the positive electrode chamber sped up healing of deep skin wounds, but this effect wasn't due to the antibacterial compound hypochlorous acid that's also produced during electrolysis. The researchers suggest that reactive oxygen species (highly reactive molecules) in the treated water may have triggered healing by encouraging skin cells called fibroblasts to move and multiply.
Practical Takeaway
This is early-stage research conducted only in rats, so it's too soon to draw conclusions about effectiveness in humans. The study suggests electrolyzed water may have wound-healing potential through a novel mechanism, but human clinical trials would be needed before any health claims could be made.
Abstract (excerpt)
Electrolyzed water accelerated the healing of full-thickness cutaneous wounds in rats, but only anode chamber water (acid pH or neutralized) was effective. Hypochlorous acid (HOCl), also produced by electrolysis, was ineffective, suggesting that these types of electrolyzed water enhance wound…