Hydrogen Water Protects Lungs from Chemical Damage in Mice
- Authors
- Chie Sato, Yoshito Kamijo, Kuniko Yoshimura, Taito Inagaki, Tatsuhiro Yamaya, Sadataka Asakuma, Masataka Majima, Yasushi Asari
- Journal
- Kitasato Medical Journal
- Year
- 2015
- Study Type
- Mouse
- Outcome
- Positive
- Peer Reviewed
- Yes
- Country
- Japan
- Health Condition
- Pulmonary Fibrosis
- Body System
- Respiratory
TL;DR
Drinking hydrogen water might help prevent lung damage caused by chronic exposure to the toxic chemical paraquat.
Key Finding
Mice that drank hydrogen water while exposed to paraquat showed significantly lower lung stiffness and less inflammation and scarring compared to mice that drank regular water.
Summary
Researchers gave mice a toxic chemical called paraquat that damages the lungs by creating harmful molecules called reactive oxygen species. Some mice drank hydrogen water (water infused with hydrogen gas) while others drank regular tap water. After 3 weeks, the mice that drank hydrogen water showed less lung damage, inflammation, and scarring (fibrosis) compared to the control group, suggesting hydrogen water's antioxidant properties may help protect against this type of chemical injury.
Practical Takeaway
This study is limited to mice exposed to a specific toxic chemical, so results may not apply to humans or other types of lung disease. While the findings suggest hydrogen water may have protective antioxidant effects against paraquat-induced lung damage, much more research—including human studies—would be needed before any health recommendations could be made.
Abstract (excerpt)
Objective: Chronic paraquat (PQ) intoxication causes pulmonary fibrosis. PQ-induced pulmonary injury is caused by reactive oxygen species (ROS) that are produced during the reduction-oxidation (redox) cycle. In addition, the hydrogen has antioxidative effects. The present study aimed to determine…