Hydrogen Water Reduces Fatty Liver Disease in Mice Study
High-content hydrogen water-induced downregulation of miR-136 alleviates non-alcoholic fatty liver disease by regulating Nrf2 via targeting MEG3
Research hubs: Digestive System
This research was done in animals. Results in animals often don't carry over to people.
- Evidence type
- Animal study (mouse)
- Authors
- Xiang Wang, Jiao Wang
- Journal
- Biological Chemistry
- Year
- 2017
- PMID
- 29261513
- Study Type
- Mouse
- Delivery
- Water (Dissolved)
- Outcome
- Positive
- Peer Reviewed
- Yes
- Cited by
- 35 (OpenAlex, as of November 2026)
- Country
- China
TL;DR
Drinking water with a high concentration of hydrogen gas can help reduce liver fat and improve liver health in mice with a condition similar to human fatty liver disease.
Key Finding
In mice with diet-induced fatty liver disease, hydrogen water reduced liver damage markers and blood fat levels while activating protective cellular pathways through changes in specific gene regulators.
Summary
Researchers tested whether hydrogen-rich water could help treat fatty liver disease (a condition where fat builds up in the liver) in mice fed a high-fat diet. They found that hydrogen water reduced liver damage markers and lipid (fat) levels in the blood, and changed the activity of specific genes and proteins involved in protecting cells from damage. The effect appeared to work by reducing a molecule called miR-136, which then allowed other protective pathways to activate.
Practical Takeaway
This study is preliminary—it was conducted only in mice, not humans, and the study duration and sample size were not reported. While the results suggest hydrogen water may influence liver-protective pathways, much more research is needed before any conclusions can be drawn about its effects in people with fatty liver disease.
Abstract (excerpt)
Abstract This study was aimed to investigate the potential regulatory mechanism of high-content hydrogen water (HHW) in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). A high-fat diet (HFD)-induced NAFLD mice model and cellular model were prepared. The serum levels of alanine transaminase (ALT)…