Hydrogen Water Protects Kidneys from Blockage Damage in Rats
- Authors
- Bo Xu, Yu-Bo Zhang, Zhao-Zhu Li, Mo-Wen Yang, Shuai Wang, Da-Peng Jiang
- Journal
- International Immunopharmacology
- Year
- 2013
- DOI
- 10.1016/j.intimp.2013.06.033
- Study Type
- Rat
- Outcome
- Positive
- Peer Reviewed
- Yes
- Country
- China
- Health Condition
- Kidney Disease
- Body System
- Urinary System
TL;DR
Hydrogen-rich saline (HS) can significantly reduce kidney damage and improve kidney health in rats with blocked ureters.
Key Finding
Hydrogen-rich saline significantly reduced kidney injury, cell death, scarring, and inflammation in rats with ureteral obstruction, while improving the kidneys' natural antioxidant defenses.
Summary
Researchers tested whether hydrogen-rich saline (a salt solution containing dissolved hydrogen gas) could protect rat kidneys from injury caused by a blocked ureter. Rats with blocked ureters that received hydrogen-rich saline showed less kidney damage, less cell death, less scarring, and better antioxidant enzyme activity compared to rats that received regular saline or no treatment.
Practical Takeaway
This rat study suggests hydrogen-rich saline may help protect kidneys from obstruction-related damage, but these results cannot yet be applied to humans. Further research in human subjects would be needed to determine whether hydrogen water or hydrogen-rich saline could have similar protective effects in people with kidney disease.
Abstract
Hydrogen has been demonstrated to have effective protection against tissue injuries caused by oxidative stress, inflammation, and apoptosis. This study investigated the efficacy of hydrogen-rich saline (HS) on the prevention of renal injury induced by unilateral ureteric obstruction (UUO) in rats. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided randomly into 4 groups: sham group, UUO group, UUO+saline group, and UUO+HS group. UUO was induced by ligation of the left ureter. 5ml/kg HRSS or saline was administered beginning 1day after UUO and for 10days thereafter. Rats were killed at 10days after UUO. Left kidneys were excised immediately for the tissue histologic examinations and biochemical assays. Renal injury scores in the UUO group and the UUO+saline group were significantly higher compared with those in the sham group. However, administration of HS significantly reduced the injury score. Apoptosis index was significantly increased in UUO group and the UUO+saline group. HS treatment also reduced the apoptosis index. Interstitial fibrosis and macrophage infiltration were obvious in UUO kidneys. However, HS treatment significantly reduced the fibrosis and infiltration of macrophage in UUO kidneys. Significant increase in the MDA level and decrease in the SOD activity were observed in UUO group and the UUO+saline group. MDA level of UUO+HS group was significantly reduced. In addition, SOD activity of was significantly improved after treatment of HS. The data provide a biochemical and histologic basis for HS acting as a novel therapeutic strategy for preventing the renal injury induced by UUO.