Hydrogen Water Reduced Heart Damage During Heart Attacks in Rats
Effects of Hydrogen-rich Water on the PI3K/AKT Signaling Pathway in Rats with Myocardial Ischemia-reperfusion Injury
Research hubs: Cardiovascular System
This research was done in animals. Results in animals often don't carry over to people.
- Evidence type
- Animal study (rat)
- Authors
- Liangtong Li, Xiangzi Li, Zhe Zhang, Li Liu, Tongtong Liu, Shaochun Li, Sen Liu, Yujuan Zhou, Fulin Liu
- Journal
- Current Molecular Medicine
- Year
- 2020
- PMID
- 31702499
- Study Type
- Rat
- Participants
- 60
- Delivery
- Water (Dissolved)
- Dose
- K-R solution + hydrogen-rich water perfusion
- Outcome
- Positive
- Peer Reviewed
- Yes
- Cited by
- 18 (OpenAlex, as of November 2026)
- Country
- China
TL;DR
Drinking hydrogen-rich water may help reduce heart damage after a heart attack by activating a protective signaling pathway in the body.
Key Finding
Hydrogen-rich water activated a protective cellular signaling pathway (PI3K/AKT) and significantly reduced cell death markers in rat hearts experiencing ischemia-reperfusion injury.
Summary
Researchers studied whether hydrogen-rich water could protect rat hearts from damage caused by temporarily blocking and then restoring blood flow (a condition called ischemia-reperfusion injury). They perfused isolated rat hearts with either regular solution or solution containing hydrogen-rich water, then subjected them to a period of blocked blood flow followed by restored blood flow. The hydrogen-rich water activated a protective cellular pathway (PI3K/AKT) and reduced markers of cell death in heart tissue compared to the control group.
Practical Takeaway
This is an early-stage animal study using isolated rat hearts in a laboratory setting, so results cannot yet be applied to humans. While the findings suggest hydrogen-rich water may have potential cardioprotective effects, human clinical trials would be needed to determine if these benefits translate to people experiencing heart-related conditions.
Abstract (excerpt)
Background: The effects of hydrogen-rich water on PI3K/AKT-mediated apoptosis were studied in rats subjected to myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury (MIRI). Methdos: Sixty rats were divided randomly into a hydrogen-rich water group and a control group. The hearts were removed and fixed…