Hydrogen Water Protects Hearing Cells from Damage in Lab Study
Hydrogen protects auditory hair cells from free radicals
Research hubs: Brain & Nervous System
This research was done on cells or tissue in a lab, not in people or animals.
- Evidence type
- Laboratory study (cells or tissue)
- Authors
- Yayoi S. Kikkawa, Takayuki Nakagawa, Rie T. Horie, Juichi Ito
- Journal
- Neuroreport
- Year
- 2009
- PMID
- 19339905
- Study Type
- Mouse
- Delivery
- Saline (Dissolved)
- H₂ concentration
- hydrogen-saturated medium
- Outcome
- Positive
- Peer Reviewed
- Yes
- Cited by
- 43 (OpenAlex, as of November 2026)
- Country
- Japan
TL;DR
Hydrogen treatment can protect the delicate cells in our ears from damage caused by harmful oxygen-related molecules.
Key Finding
Hydrogen-saturated medium significantly reduced free radical damage and improved survival of auditory hair cells in laboratory-grown mouse ear tissue.
Summary
Researchers studied whether hydrogen could protect delicate hair cells in the inner ear from damage caused by harmful molecules called free radicals (reactive oxygen species). Using mouse ear tissue in a lab dish, they exposed the cells to a substance that creates free radicals, then treated some samples with hydrogen-saturated liquid. The hydrogen-treated samples showed less damage, less buildup of harmful byproducts, and better cell survival compared to untreated samples.
Practical Takeaway
This laboratory study in mouse tissue suggests hydrogen may have potential to protect hearing cells from oxidative damage, but it is very early-stage research. The study was conducted in a dish rather than in living animals or humans, so it's unclear whether these results would translate to actual hearing protection in people. Much more research is needed before any conclusions can be drawn about hydrogen's usefulness for hearing health.
Abstract (excerpt)
Reactive oxygen species (ROS) play a role in the degeneration of auditory hair cells because of aging, noise trauma, or ototoxic drugs. Hydrogenation is a fundamental reduction/de-oxidation reaction in living organisms. This study thus examined the potential of hydrogen to protect auditory hair…