Hydrogen Water Improves Skin Drug Absorption in Lab Study
- Authors
- Toshihiko Kitamura, Hiroaki Todo, Kenji Sugibayashi
- Journal
- Drug Development and Industrial Pharmacy
- Year
- 2009
- DOI
- 10.1080/03639040802005040
- Study Type
- Rat
- Outcome
- Neutral
- Peer Reviewed
- Yes
- Country
- Japan
- Health Condition
- Topical Drug Delivery Challenges
- Body System
- Integumentary
TL;DR
Special types of water can change how easily medications pass through the skin, potentially improving how topical drugs and cosmetics work.
Key Finding
Alkaline electrolyzed reducing water significantly enhanced skin penetration of basic and non-ionized compounds, while acidic electrolyzed oxidizing water preferentially enhanced penetration of acidic compounds.
Summary
Researchers tested whether electrolyzed water (water treated with electricity to change its chemical properties) could help medicines pass through skin more effectively. Using rat skin samples, they found that alkaline electrolyzed water increased how much of certain drugs penetrated the skin, while acidic electrolyzed water had different effects depending on the drug type. The researchers suggest these electrolyzed waters could potentially be used in topical medicines or cosmetics to improve drug delivery through skin.
Practical Takeaway
This is an early-stage laboratory study using rat skin, not human testing, so its relevance to actual use of hydrogen water on human skin remains unclear. While the results suggest electrolyzed waters may have potential as a delivery system for topical medicines, this study does not provide evidence about health benefits of drinking hydrogen water or using it cosmetically on intact skin.
Abstract
The effects of several electrolyzed waters were evaluated on the permeation of model base, acid and non-ionized compounds, lidocaine (LC), benzoic acid (BA), and isosorbide mononitrate (ISMN), respectively, through excised hairless rat skin. Strong alkaline-electrolyzed reducing water (ERW) enhanced and suppressed the skin permeation of LC and BA, respectively, and it also increased the skin permeation of ISMN, a non-ionized compound. On the contrary, strong acidic electrolyzed oxidizing water (EOW) enhanced BA permeation, whereas suppressing LC permeation. Only a marginal effect was observed on the skin permeation of ISMN by EOW. These marked enhancing effects of ERW on the skin permeation of LC and ISMN were explained by pH partition hypothesis as well as a decrease in skin impedance. The present results strongly support that electrolyzed waters, ERW and EOW, can be used as a new vehicle in topical pharmaceuticals or cosmetics to modify the skin permeation of drugs without severe skin damage.