Hydrogen Water and Uterine Inflammation in Preterm Labor in Mice
Effect of molecular hydrogen on uterine inflammation during preterm labour
Research hubs: Reproductive System · Endocrine System
This research was done in animals. Results in animals often don't carry over to people.
- Evidence type
- Animal study (mouse)
- Authors
- Tomoko Nakano, Tomomi Kotani, Kenji Imai, Yukako Iitani, Takafumi Ushida, Hiroyuki Tsuda, Hua Li, Akira Iwase, Shinya Toyokuni, Fumitaka Kikkawa
- Journal
- Biomedical Reports
- Year
- 2018
- PMID
- 29732148
- Study Type
- Mouse
- Delivery
- Water, Commercial (Blue Mercury)
- Dose
- H2 water administered 24 h prior to LPS injection
- Outcome
- Positive
- Peer Reviewed
- Yes
- Cited by
- 4 (OpenAlex, as of November 2026)
- Country
- Japan
TL;DR
Drinking hydrogen-enriched water before an inflammatory trigger can delay preterm labor in mice by reducing inflammation in the womb.
Key Finding
In pregnant mice, hydrogen water administration delayed preterm labor onset by approximately 15 hours and reduced multiple inflammatory markers in the uterus compared to untreated mice.
Summary
Researchers gave pregnant mice hydrogen-enriched water to see if it could prevent early labor caused by inflammation. Mice that received hydrogen water before being exposed to an inflammatory trigger delivered their babies about 15 hours later than mice without hydrogen water treatment. The hydrogen water also reduced inflammatory markers (chemical signals of inflammation) in the uterus and increased progesterone levels, a hormone important for maintaining pregnancy.
Practical Takeaway
This is an early-stage animal study suggesting hydrogen water may help suppress inflammation related to preterm labor, but it cannot yet inform human treatment decisions. Research in pregnant women would be needed before any clinical recommendations could be made, and anyone concerned about preterm labor should consult their healthcare provider about proven prevention strategies.
Abstract (excerpt)
Intrauterine inflammation causes preterm birth and is associated with complications in preterm neonates. Thus, strategies aimed at suppressing inflammation are expected to be effective for reducing the risk of preterm birth and associated complications. Our previous studies demonstrated that…