Electrolyzed Water Shows Promise Against Chagas Disease in Mice Study
- Authors
- Olivia Rodríguez-Morales, Juan José Cabrera-Mata, Silvia del C. Carrillo-Sánchez, Rodolfo A. Gutiérrez-Ocejo, Lidia Baylón-Pacheco, Olga L. Pérez-Reyes, José Luis Rosales-Encina, Alberto Aranda-Fraustro, Sergio Hernández-García, Minerva Arce-Fonseca
- Journal
- Pathogens
- Year
- 2020
- DOI
- 10.3390/pathogens9110974
- Study Type
- Mouse
- Outcome
- Neutral
- Peer Reviewed
- Yes
- Country
- Mexico
- Health Condition
- Chagas Disease
- Body System
- Immune System
TL;DR
A study found that Electrolyzed Oxidizing Water (EOW) can help reduce the severity of Chagas disease in mice by boosting certain immune responses.
Key Finding
Electrolyzed oxidizing water reduced parasite levels and mortality in infected mice as effectively as the standard drug benznidazole, working primarily by strengthening the immune response rather than directly attacking the parasite.
Summary
Researchers tested electrolyzed oxidizing water (water treated with electricity to create specific chemical properties) in mice infected with a parasite that causes Chagas disease. The treated mice showed reduced parasite levels, better overall health, and lower death rates compared to untreated mice. The water appeared to work by boosting the immune system rather than directly killing the parasite.
Practical Takeaway
This is an early-stage animal study that does not directly apply to humans or hydrogen water specifically. While the results are interesting for understanding how electrolyzed water might affect immune function, much more research—including human trials—would be needed before any conclusions could be drawn about its use for Chagas disease or other conditions in people.
Abstract
Chagas disease is a major public health problem in Latin America. The mixed Th1/Th2 immune response is required against Trypanosoma cruzi. Electrolyzed oxidizing water (EOW) has been shown to have germicidal efficacy. The objective of this study was to evaluate the EOW effectiveness in T. cruzi-infected BALB/c mice clinically, immunologically, and histologically. The severity of the infection was assessed by parasitaemia, general health condition, mortality, mega syndromes, and histological lesions. IgG, TNF-alpha, IFN-gamma, and IL-1 beta levels were quantified. The EOW administration showed a beneficial effect on parasitaemia, general physical condition, and mortality. High levels of IgG1 at 50 days postinfection were observed. Prophylactic EOW treatment was able to induce a predominantly TH1 immune response based on an IgG2a levels increase at the late acute phase, and a 10-fold increase of INF-gamma in whole acute phase. EOW was able to control the acute phase infection as effectively as benznidazole. Splenomegaly was caused by EOW treatment and lymphadenopathy was stimulated by T. cruzi infection in all groups. Severe tissue damage was not prevented by EOW treatments. Moderate efficacy may be due to immunomodulatory properties and not to a direct toxic effect on the parasite.