Hydrogen Therapy Reduces Heart Disease Risk in Mice Study
- Authors
- Guohua Song, Hua Tian, Shucun Qin, Xuejun Sun, Shutong Yao, Chuanlong Zong, Yingying Luo, Jia Liu, Yang Yu, Hui Sang, Xinnong Wang
- Journal
- Atherosclerosis
- Year
- 2012
- DOI
- 10.1016/j.atherosclerosis.2011.11.043
- Study Type
- Mouse
- Outcome
- Positive
- Peer Reviewed
- Yes
- Country
- China
- Health Condition
- Atherosclerosis
- Body System
- Cardiovascular
TL;DR
Hydrogen treatment reduces bad cholesterol and inflammation, while improving good cholesterol function, which may help prevent hardening of the arteries.
Key Finding
Hydrogen-saturated saline injections reduced cholesterol levels, inflammatory markers, and arterial fatty deposits in mice genetically susceptible to atherosclerosis.
Summary
Researchers gave mice genetically prone to atherosclerosis (a disease involving fatty buildup in arteries) injections of hydrogen-saturated saline for eight weeks. The treatment reduced cholesterol levels, decreased harmful inflammatory molecules, and reduced fatty deposits in the arteries. The study suggests hydrogen may work by improving how the body removes cholesterol and reducing oxidative stress (cellular damage from unstable molecules).
Practical Takeaway
This mouse study provides early evidence that hydrogen may have anti-atherosclerotic properties, but it cannot yet inform human health recommendations. The findings are limited to a specific mouse model and used injected hydrogen rather than drinking hydrogen water. Human studies would be needed to determine whether these effects apply to people and whether drinking hydrogen water offers similar benefits.
Abstract (excerpt)
It is to characterize the underlying molecular mechanisms of the anti-atherosclerotic effects of hydrogen (dihydrogen; H(2)), a novel antioxidant. In particular, to examine the effects of hydrogen on athero-susceptibility in lipoproteins and aorta of apolipoprotein E knockout (apoE-/-) mice. Plasma…