Hydrogen Gas Reduces Blood Pressure from Sleep Breathing Problems in Rats
- Authors
- Peng Guan, Xiao-Meng Lin, Sheng-Chang Yang, Ya-Jing Guo, Wen-Ya Li, Ya-Shuo Zhao, Fu-Yang Yu, Zhi-Min Sun, Ji-Ren An, En-Sheng Ji
- Journal
- Journal of Cellular Biochemistry
- Year
- 2019
- DOI
- 10.1002/jcb.27684
- Study Type
- Rat
- Outcome
- Positive
- Peer Reviewed
- Yes
- Country
- China
- Health Condition
- Hypertension
- Body System
- Cardiovascular
TL;DR
Breathing hydrogen gas can lower high blood pressure and improve blood vessel health in rats subjected to conditions that mimic sleep apnea.
Key Finding
Hydrogen gas inhalation reduced both systolic and diastolic blood pressure increases caused by chronic intermittent hypoxia in rats, with improvements linked to reduced oxidative stress and decreased sympathetic nerve activity.
Summary
Researchers exposed rats to repeated cycles of low oxygen levels over 5 weeks, which caused their blood pressure to rise. When these rats also breathed hydrogen gas for 2 hours daily, their blood pressure increases were significantly reduced. The study suggests hydrogen gas may work by reducing harmful molecules called free radicals and calming the nervous system's stress response.
Practical Takeaway
This is an early-stage animal study showing hydrogen gas may help counteract blood pressure rises from low-oxygen conditions. However, the findings are limited to rats, and it's unclear whether these results would apply to humans or to high blood pressure from other causes. More research in humans would be needed before drawing conclusions about hydrogen water's usefulness for managing blood pressure.
Abstract
AbstractMolecular hydrogen is reported to be used medically to ameliorate various systemic pathological conditions. This study aimed to investigate the effect of hydrogen (H2) gas on hypertension induced by intermittent hypoxia in rats. The adult rats were exposed to chronic intermittent hypoxia (CIH) 8 hours/day for 5 weeks and/or H 2 gas 2 hours/day. We found that the systolic and diastolic blood pressure (BP) increased significantly in rats exposed to intermittent hypoxia, both of which were markedly attenuated after H treatment. Furthermore, intermittent hypoxia exposure elevated renal sympathetic nerve activity, consistent with plasma norepinephrine. Additionally, H 2 gas significantly improved CIH‐induced abnormal vascular relaxation. Nevertheless, inhalation of H 2 gas alone did not cause such changes. Moreover, H 2 gas‐treated rats exposed to CIH showed a significant reduction in 8‐hydroxy‐2 deoxyguanosine content and increases in superoxide dismutase activity, indicating improved oxidative stress. Taken together, these results indicate that H 2 gas has significant effects on the reduction of BP without any side effects. Mechanistically, inhibition of sympathetic activity and reduction of systemic vascular resistance may participate in this process via the antioxidant activity of H 2.