Hydrogen Water Protects Cells from Environmental Stress and DNA Damage
- Authors
- Seul-Ki Park, Jum-Ji Kim, A. -Reum Yu, Mi-Young Lee, Sang-Kyu Park
- Journal
- Molecular & Cellular Toxicology
- Year
- 2012
- DOI
- 10.1007/s13273-012-0029-1
- Study Type
- Nematode (Caenorhabditis elegans)
- Outcome
- Positive
- Peer Reviewed
- Yes
- Country
- South Korea
- Health Condition
- Oxidative Stress
- Body System
- Cellular
TL;DR
Water that has undergone a special electrical process can help protect cells and tiny worms from different types of stress, including oxidative damage, heat, and UV light.
Key Finding
Electrolyzed-reduced water reduced oxidative damage in human cells and increased stress resistance in laboratory worms, suggesting it has antioxidant properties.
Summary
Researchers tested electrolyzed-reduced water (ERW)—water created through a process that gives it special chemical properties—to see if it could protect cells from damage. In lab tests, ERW reduced harmful molecules called reactive oxygen species in human immune cells and protected them from oxidative damage. In experiments with C. elegans (tiny worms commonly used in research), ERW made the organisms more resistant to stress from chemicals, heat, and UV light.
Practical Takeaway
While these early laboratory findings are interesting, they come from cell and worm studies, not human trials. Much more research would be needed to determine whether these effects translate to benefits in people. The study provides a foundation for further investigation but does not yet support any health claims about ERW for human use.
Abstract
Electrolysis of water produces reduced water at the cathode and oxidized water at the anode. Electrolyzed-reduced water (ERW) has an extremely negative oxidation-reduction potential. ERW scavenges cellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) and suppresses single-strand breaks of plasmid DNA in bacteria. Here, we examined the effect of ERW on resistance to oxidative stress both in vitro and in vivo. Oxidative DNA damage in human lymphocytes was significantly alleviated by ERW by reducing cellular ROS levels. Caenorhabditis elegans grown in media prepared with ERW had increased resistance to oxidative stress caused by paraquat. We observed a significant effect of ERW on response to other stressors, including heat shock and UV-irradiation in C. elegans. These data indicate that the powerful anti-oxidant activity of ERW is due to its radical-scavenging activity and show, for the first time, that ERW could increase thermotolerance and resistance to UV-irradiation. These results suggest that ERW aids resistance to various environmental stresses.