Hydrogen Water Protects Lungs from Sepsis Damage in Lab Study
Effects of hydrogen-rich saline on aquaporin 1, 5 in septic rat lungs
Research hubs: Respiratory System
This research was done in animals. Results in animals often don't carry over to people.
- Evidence type
- Animal study (rat)
- Authors
- Bingdong Tao, Lidan Liu, Ni Wang, Wei Wang, Jingjing Jiang, Jin Zhang
- Journal
- Journal of Surgical Research
- Year
- 2016
- PMID
- 27229103
- Study Type
- Rat
- Delivery
- Saline (Dissolved)
- Dose
- intraperitoneal injection of HRS
- Outcome
- Positive
- Peer Reviewed
- Yes
- Cited by
- 37 (OpenAlex, as of November 2026)
- Country
- China
TL;DR
Hydrogen-rich saline (HRS) treatment may protect against sepsis-related lung injury by maintaining levels of important water-channel proteins in the lungs.
Key Finding
Hydrogen-rich saline protected septic rat lungs by preserving aquaporin 1 and 5 proteins, which help remove excess fluid from lung tissue, while also blocking inflammatory signaling pathways.
Summary
This study tested whether hydrogen-rich saline could protect rat lungs from injury caused by sepsis (a severe infection response). Researchers gave rats a substance that triggers sepsis-like lung damage, then treated some with hydrogen-rich saline. They found that hydrogen-rich saline preserved two proteins (aquaporin 1 and 5) that normally help remove excess fluid from lung tissue, and it improved lung function by blocking certain inflammatory pathways.
Practical Takeaway
This is early-stage research in rats only, so it cannot yet be applied to humans. The study suggests a potential mechanism by which hydrogen-rich saline might help protect lungs during severe infection, but human studies would be needed to determine if this effect occurs in people and whether it translates to meaningful health benefits.
Abstract (excerpt)
Aquaporin 1(AQP1) and AQP5 have an important role in eliminating extravascular lung water, an increase of which contributes to lung injury in patients with sepsis and its consequent mortality. It has been reported that hydrogen-rich saline (HRS) has protective effects against sepsis-related lung…