Hydrogen Treatment Improves Organ Transplant Success in Animal Study
Hydrogen-Enriched Preservation Protects the Isogeneic Intestinal Graft and Amends Recipient Gastric Function During Transplantation
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
- Bettina M. Buchholz, Kosuke Masutani, Tomohiro Kawamura, Ximei Peng, Yoshiya Toyoda, Timothy R. Billiar, Anthony J. Bauer, Atsunori Nakao
- Journal
- Transplantation
- Year
- 2011
- PMID
- 21956195
- Study Type
- Rat
- Delivery
- Water (Dissolved)
- Dose
- hydrogen-bubbled preservation solution for ex vivo organ treatment with 3-hr or 6-hr cold ischemia time
- Outcome
- Positive
- Peer Reviewed
- Yes
- Cited by
- 63 (OpenAlex, as of November 2026)
- Country
- United States
TL;DR
Treating donor intestines with hydrogen before transplanting them into rats reduces damage and inflammation, improving the chances of survival and the function of the transplanted organ.
Key Finding
Intestines preserved in hydrogen-enriched solution showed 80% recipient survival compared to 41% in standard preservation, with reduced tissue damage and inflammatory markers.
Summary
Researchers tested whether adding hydrogen gas to the preservation solution used to store donated intestines before transplant could reduce damage to the organ. In rat transplant experiments, intestines stored in hydrogen-enriched solution showed better tissue preservation, less inflammation, and improved function after transplant compared to standard preservation. Rats receiving hydrogen-treated intestines had significantly higher survival rates (80% versus 41%).
Practical Takeaway
This rat study suggests hydrogen-enriched organ preservation may improve transplant outcomes by reducing oxidative stress and inflammation. However, this is early-stage research in animals only—human transplant applications remain years away, and the relevance to hydrogen water consumption by healthy individuals is unclear.
Abstract (excerpt)
Inhaled hydrogen gas exerts antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects in rat intestinal transplantation. Here, we investigated whether ex vivo donor organ treatment with dissolved hydrogen would prevent intestinal graft injury. Isogeneic intestinal transplantation was performed in Lewis rats…