Hydrogen Water Protects Kidneys from Blockage Damage in Rats
Hydrogen-rich saline ameliorates renal injury induced by unilateral ureteral obstruction in rats
This research was done in animals. Results in animals often don't carry over to people.
- Evidence type
- Animal study (rat)
- Authors
- Bo Xu, Yu-Bo Zhang, Zhao-Zhu Li, Mo-Wen Yang, Shuai Wang, Da-Peng Jiang
- Journal
- International Immunopharmacology
- Year
- 2013
- PMID
- 23871246
- Study Type
- Rat
- Delivery
- Saline (Dissolved)
- Dose
- 5 ml/kg hydrogen-rich saline administered beginning 1 day after UUO and for 10 days thereafter
- Duration
- 10 days
- Outcome
- Positive
- Peer Reviewed
- Yes
- Cited by
- 15 (OpenAlex, as of November 2026)
- Country
- China
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 (excerpt)
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…