Hydrogen Bubbles Protect Liver from Alcohol Damage in Rats
- Authors
- Risako Morishita, Ayaka Onishi, Maresuka Oya, Hirotsugu Karashima, Misato Mori, Yuka Kawatani, Noriyasu Kamei, Mariko Takeda-Morishita
- Journal
- Biological & Pharmaceutical Bulletin
- Year
- 2024
- DOI
- 10.1248/bpb.b24-00034
- Study Type
- Rat
- Outcome
- Positive
- Peer Reviewed
- Yes
- Country
- Japan
- Health Condition
- Alcohol-Related Liver Disease
- Body System
- Hepatic
TL;DR
Drinking water with ultrafine bubbles filled with hydrogen gas can reduce liver damage caused by alcohol in rats.
Key Finding
Hydrogen-filled ultrafine bubbles in drinking water significantly reduced alcohol-induced oxidative stress (cellular damage) in rats by lowering blood lipid peroxidation and preserving normal mitochondrial function in the liver.
Summary
Researchers gave rats alcohol to damage their livers, then tested whether drinking water containing tiny hydrogen bubbles (smaller than one micrometer in diameter) could help. The hydrogen-filled bubbles reduced signs of cellular damage caused by the alcohol and helped maintain normal energy production in liver cells. This was the first study to show that these tiny bubbles can deliver hydrogen gas through drinking water to tissues in the body.
Practical Takeaway
While this rat study suggests hydrogen-filled ultrafine bubbles may help counteract alcohol-related liver damage, it is a preliminary animal study and does not demonstrate effects in humans. Much more research, including human trials, would be needed before drawing any conclusions about whether this approach could benefit people. The study's small scope and lack of reported sample size also limit what can be concluded.
Abstract
Ultrafine bubbles (UFBs), which are bubbles with diameters of less than 1 µm, are widely recognized for their ability to exist stably in liquid as a result of the effects of Brownian motion. In this study, we focused on hydrogen, known for its antioxidant potential, and explored the function of H2-filled UFBs, which encapsulate hydrogen, to determine their potential use as oral carriers for the delivery bioactive gases to living organisms. To this end, rats were orally administered ethanol to induce hepatic oxidative stress, and the effects of drinking H2-filled UFBs (H2 NanoGAS®) water for two weeks were evaluated to assess the reduction of oxidative stress. Continuous alcohol consumption was found to significantly increase the blood lipid peroxidation levels in the control group, confirming the induction of oxidative stress. An increase in blood lipid peroxidation was significantly inhibited by the consumption of concentrated H2 NanoGAS® (C-HN) water. Furthermore, the measurement of mitochondrial activity in the liver revealed that drinking H2 NanoGAS® water helped to maintain at a normal level and/or boosted the functional activity of the electron transport system in mitochondria affected by ethanol intake. To our knowledge, this study is the first to provide evidence for the use of orally ingested UFBs as carriers for the delivery gases to tissues, thereby exerting their physiological activity in the body. Our findings highlight the potential for the application of UFBs to various physiologically active gases and their utilization in the medical field in the future.