Hydrogen Saline Protects Against Sepsis in Animal Study
Effects of hydrogen-rich saline treatment on polymicrobial sepsis
Research hubs: Immune System · Respiratory System
This research was done in animals. Results in animals often don't carry over to people.
- Evidence type
- Animal study (rat)
- Authors
- Guo-Min Li, Mu-Huo Ji, Xue-Jun Sun, Qiu-Ting Zeng, Mi Tian, Yun-Xia Fan, Wei-Yan Li, Ning Li, Jian-Jun Yang
- Journal
- Journal of Surgical Research
- Year
- 2013
- PMID
- 22795273
- Study Type
- Rat
- Participants
- 24
- Delivery
- Saline (Dissolved)
- Dose
- 5 mL/kg hydrogen-rich saline intraperitoneal injection at 0, 6, and 18 h after CLP
- Duration
- 1 weeks
- Outcome
- Positive
- Peer Reviewed
- Yes
- Cited by
- 47 (OpenAlex, as of November 2026)
- Country
- China
TL;DR
Hydrogen-rich saline (HRS) may help reduce inflammation and organ damage in rats with sepsis but doesn't seem to increase their chances of survival.
Key Finding
Hydrogen-rich saline reduced organ damage markers, inflammatory responses, and cell death in septic rats, but did not improve 7-day survival rates compared to untreated sepsis.
Summary
Researchers tested whether hydrogen-rich saline could help rats with sepsis (a life-threatening infection). They induced sepsis in rats and gave some of them hydrogen-rich saline injections while others received regular saline. The hydrogen-rich saline reduced markers of organ damage (liver and kidney), decreased lung inflammation and swelling, and reduced cell death compared to untreated sepsis. However, it did not improve survival rates over the 7-day study period.
Practical Takeaway
This rat study suggests hydrogen-rich saline may help protect organs during severe infection by reducing inflammation and oxidative stress (cellular damage from harmful molecules). However, this is early-stage animal research with no human trials yet, and the lack of survival benefit raises questions about clinical relevance. Much more research, including human studies, would be needed before any health claims could be made.
Abstract (excerpt)
Background: Hydrogen has been reported to selectively reduce hydroxyl radicals and peroxynitrite anion in many pathologic processes. This study aimed to test the hypothesis that hydrogen-rich saline (HRS) may ameliorate organ dysfunction in a rat model of polymicrobial sepsis. Methods: Sepsis was…