Hydrogen Water Reduces Abdominal Pain in IBD Rat Study
Electrolyzed Hydrogen Water Alleviates Abdominal Pain through Suppression of Colonic Tissue Inflammation in a Rat Model of Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Research hubs: Digestive System
This research was done in animals. Results in animals often don't carry over to people.
- Evidence type
- Animal study (rat)
- Authors
- Di Hu, Tianliang Huang, Mika Shigeta, Yuta Ochi, Shigeru Kabayama, Yasuyoshi Watanabe, Yilong Cui
- Journal
- Nutrients
- Year
- 2022
- PMID
- 36364715
- Study Type
- Rat
- Delivery
- Water (Electrolysis)
- Dose
- daily EHW consumption
- Outcome
- Positive
- Peer Reviewed
- Yes
- Country
- Japan
TL;DR
Drinking electrolyzed hydrogen water (EHW) can significantly reduce abdominal pain and inflammation in a rat model of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).
Key Finding
In rats with induced inflammatory bowel disease, electrolyzed hydrogen water significantly reduced abdominal pain and colonic inflammation compared to controls, with effects linked to reduced free radicals and inflammatory markers.
Summary
Researchers gave rats with artificially induced inflammatory bowel disease (IBD—a condition causing chronic inflammation in the digestive tract) electrolyzed hydrogen water (water treated to contain dissolved hydrogen gas) or regular water. The rats that received hydrogen water experienced less abdominal pain and less inflammation in their colon tissue compared to control rats. The hydrogen water appeared to work by reducing harmful molecules called free radicals and decreasing inflammatory chemicals in the gut.
Practical Takeaway
While this rat study suggests hydrogen water may help reduce IBD-related inflammation and pain, it cannot be directly applied to humans yet. Human clinical trials would be needed to determine if these effects occur in people with IBD and at what doses. Anyone with IBD should consult their doctor before trying hydrogen water as a supplement.
Abstract (excerpt)
Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is characterized by chronic inflammation of the digestive tract and is typically accompanied by characteristic symptoms, such as abdominal pain, diarrhea, and bloody stool, severely deteriorating the quality of the patient's life. Electrolyzed hydrogen water (EHW)…