Hydrogen Water Protects Brain from Stroke Damage in Hypertensive Rats
- Authors
- Satoru Takeuchi, Kimihiro Nagatani, Naoki Otani, Hiroshi Nawashiro, Takashi Sugawara, Kojiro Wada, Kentaro Mori
- Journal
- BMC Neuroscience
- Year
- 2015
- DOI
- 10.1186/s12868-015-0165-3
- Study Type
- Rat
- Outcome
- Positive
- Peer Reviewed
- Yes
- Country
- Japan
- Health Condition
- Hypertension
- Body System
- Nervous System
TL;DR
Drinking hydrogen-rich water may improve brain function and reduce brain damage in a rat model of stroke by decreasing oxidative stress and harmful enzyme activity.
Key Finding
Rats that drank hydrogen-rich water showed improved neurological function and reduced brain bleeding and infarcts (dead tissue from blocked blood flow) compared to control rats, possibly through reduced oxidative stress in the brain.
Summary
This study tested whether hydrogen-rich water could protect the brains of rats bred to be prone to strokes and high blood pressure. Rats drinking hydrogen-rich water showed better neurological function and less brain bleeding and damage compared to rats drinking regular water. The researchers found that hydrogen appeared to work by reducing harmful molecules called free radicals and lowering activity of a protein (MMP-9) that damages the barrier protecting the brain.
Practical Takeaway
While this rat study suggests hydrogen-rich water may help protect brain function in high-blood-pressure conditions, these results cannot yet be applied to humans. Human studies would be needed to determine if hydrogen water offers similar benefits for stroke prevention or brain protection in people with hypertension.
Abstract
Enhanced oxidative stress occurs in spontaneously hypertensive stroke-prone rats (SHRSP), and is important in blood-brain barrier (BBB) disruption. Hydrogen can exert potent protective cellular effects via reduction in oxidative stress in various diseases. The present study investigated whether long-term hydrogen treatment can improve neurological function outcome in the SHRSP model, and the effects of hydrogen on BBB function, especially the oxidative stress and the activity of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) in this model. Fifty-six animals were randomly assigned to 2 groups and treated as follows: SHRSP treated with hydrogen-rich water (HRW) (HRW group, n = 28); and SHRSP treated with regular water (control group, n = 28). The effect of HRW on overall survival and neurological function, and the effects of HRW on reactive oxygen species, BBB function, and MMP activities were examined. HRW treatment improved neurological function and tended to improve overall survival but without significant difference. The numbers of bleeds and infarcts were lower in the cortex and hippocampus in the HRW group. The HRW group exhibited a significantly lower number of 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine-positive cells and vessels of extravasated albumin in the hippocampus compared with the control group. MMP-9 activity was reduced in the hippocampus in the HRW group compared with the control group. The present study suggests that ingestion of HRW can improve neurological function outcome in the SHRSP model. This beneficial effect may be due to attenuation of BBB disruption via reduction in reactive oxygen species and suppression of MMP-9 activity in the hippocampus.