Hydrogen Gas Helps Fatty Liver Disease in Rats by Healing Gut Bacteria
- Authors
- Junli Xue, Min Zhao, Yunchao Liu, Xiubin Jia, Xiaoyi Zhang, Qianqian Gu, Yunbo Xie, Shucun Qin, Boyan Liu
- Journal
- European Journal of Pharmacology
- Year
- 2023
- DOI
- 10.1016/j.ejphar.2023.175698
- Study Type
- Rat
- Outcome
- Positive
- Peer Reviewed
- Yes
- Country
- China
- Health Condition
- Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease
- Body System
- Hepatic
TL;DR
Breathing in hydrogen gas can help prevent and treat fatty liver disease caused by a high-fat diet by reducing inflammation and improving gut health.
Key Finding
Hydrogen gas inhalation reduced liver inflammation and improved liver function in rats with diet-induced fatty liver disease, partly by restoring gut bacteria balance and strengthening the intestinal barrier.
Summary
Researchers gave rats with fatty liver disease (caused by a high-fat diet) hydrogen gas to breathe for 2 hours daily and compared them to rats that didn't receive hydrogen. The hydrogen-treated rats showed improvements in liver damage, blood sugar control, and liver function markers. The study also found that hydrogen reduced inflammation in the liver, strengthened the intestinal barrier (the lining that controls what enters the bloodstream), and changed the composition of gut bacteria in beneficial ways.
Practical Takeaway
This rat study suggests hydrogen gas may help with fatty liver disease through multiple pathways, but these results have not yet been tested in humans. The findings are early-stage evidence and should not be considered proof that hydrogen would work the same way in people. Anyone interested in hydrogen therapy for liver health should consult a healthcare provider, as human clinical trials are needed to determine safety and effectiveness.
Abstract (excerpt)
Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a multisystem metabolic disease associated with gut microflora dysbiosis and inflammation. Hydrogen (H2) is a novel and effective antiinflammatory agent. The present study was aimed to clarify the effects of 4% H2 inhalation on NAFLD and its mechanism…