Hydrogen Water Protects Brain After Traumatic Injury in Rats
Effect of hydrogen-rich water on the chondriosome damage and cytokines in brain tissue of rats with traumatic brain injury
Research hubs: Brain & Nervous System
This research was done in animals. Results in animals often don't carry over to people.
- Evidence type
- Animal study (rat)
- Authors
- Jiangquan Fu, Qing Lan, Difen Wang, Ying Wang, Ying Liu
- Journal
- Chinese Critical Care Medicine
- Year
- 2018
- PMID
- 29663991
- Study Type
- Rat
- Participants
- 54
- Delivery
- Water (Dissolved)
- Dose
- 5 mL/kg intraperitoneal injection once daily for up to 7 days
- Duration
- 1 weeks
- Outcome
- Positive
- Peer Reviewed
- Yes
- Cited by
- 2 (OpenAlex, as of November 2026)
- Country
- China
TL;DR
Injecting hydrogen-rich water into rats after a traumatic brain injury reduces brain cell damage and inflammation, improving brain function.
Key Finding
In rats with traumatic brain injury, hydrogen-rich water treatment reduced neurological damage scores and decreased inflammatory markers and mitochondrial damage compared to untreated injured rats.
Summary
Researchers gave rats with traumatic brain injuries (TBI) hydrogen-rich water through injection and compared them to rats with TBI who received regular saline. Hydrogen-rich water treatment reduced neurological damage scores, lowered inflammatory markers (TNF-α and IL-1β) in brain tissue, decreased harmful reactive oxygen species (unstable molecules that damage cells), and preserved mitochondrial function (the energy-producing structures in cells). These improvements suggest hydrogen-rich water may protect brain cells from further damage after injury.
Practical Takeaway
This rat study suggests hydrogen-rich water may have neuroprotective effects after traumatic brain injury by reducing inflammation and cellular damage. However, these findings are from animal studies only and cannot be directly applied to humans; clinical trials in people would be needed to determine if similar benefits occur. The practical relevance for consumers remains unclear until human research is conducted.
Abstract (excerpt)
Objective: To observe the effect of hydrogen-rich water on the chondriosome damage and cytokines change in brain tissue of rats with traumatic brain injury (TBI). Methods: Fifty-four health male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were divided into three groups by random number table: sham group, trauma group…