Hydrogen Water Reduces Brain Swelling After Head Injury in Rats
Effects of hydrogen-rich water on the expression of aquaporin 1 in the cerebral cortex of rat with traumatic brain injury
Research hubs: Brain & Nervous System
This research was done in animals. Results in animals often don't carry over to people.
- Evidence type
- Animal study (rat)
- Authors
- Xianjun Chen, Difen Wang, Ying Liu, Jia Yuan, Hailing Zhang
- Journal
- Chinese Critical Care Medicine
- Year
- 2016
- Study Type
- Rat
- Participants
- 90
- Delivery
- Water (Dissolved)
- Dose
- 5 mL/kg hydrogen-rich water injection intraperitoneally, once daily for 5 days
- Duration
- 5 days
- Outcome
- Positive
- Peer Reviewed
- Yes
- Country
- China
TL;DR
Drinking hydrogen-rich water may reduce brain swelling and damage after a traumatic brain injury by affecting water channels in the brain.
Key Finding
In rats with traumatic brain injury, hydrogen-rich water treatment significantly reduced aquaporin 1 (a protein involved in brain swelling) and decreased overall brain edema (fluid accumulation) compared to untreated injured animals.
Summary
This study tested whether hydrogen-rich water could help reduce brain swelling in rats with traumatic brain injury. Researchers gave some injured rats hydrogen-rich water injections while others received regular saline, then measured brain damage and a protein called aquaporin 1 (AQP1), which helps control fluid movement in the brain. Hydrogen-rich water treatment reduced both the amount of AQP1 and the severity of brain swelling compared to untreated injured rats, and also improved neurological function scores.
Practical Takeaway
This is an early-stage animal study suggesting hydrogen-rich water may help reduce brain swelling after traumatic injury by affecting a specific protein involved in fluid regulation. However, this was only tested in rats using direct injection into the abdomen—not the oral hydrogen water that consumers use—so it's unclear whether these results would apply to humans or to drinking hydrogen water.
Abstract (excerpt)
Objective: To investigate the effect of hydrogen-rich water on cerebral edema and aquaporin 1 (AQP1) expression in rats with traumatic brain injury (TBI). Methods: Ninety male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into sham operation group, TBI model group, hydrogen-rich water treatment…