Hydrogen Water Protects Against Severe Pancreatic Inflammation in Rats
- Authors
- Han Chen, Yan Ping Sun, Yang Li, Wen Wu Liu, Hong Gang Xiang, Lie Ying Fan, Qiang Sun, Xin Yun Xu, Jian Mei Cai, Can Ping Ruan, Ning Su, Rong Lin Yan, Xue Jun Sun, Qiang Wang
- Journal
- Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications
- Year
- 2010
- DOI
- 10.1016/j.bbrc.2010.02.005
- Study Type
- Rat
- Outcome
- Positive
- Peer Reviewed
- Yes
- Country
- China
- Health Condition
- Acute Pancreatitis
- Body System
- Digestive System
TL;DR
Hydrogen-rich saline can reduce the severity of acute pancreatitis in rats by decreasing inflammation, cell damage, and promoting cell repair.
Key Finding
Hydrogen-rich saline significantly reduced the severity of artificially induced pancreas inflammation in rats, lowering blood enzyme markers, reducing tissue swelling, and promoting cell recovery compared to regular saline treatment.
Summary
Researchers gave rats a substance that causes pancreas inflammation, then treated some with hydrogen-rich saline (salt water containing dissolved hydrogen gas) and others with regular saline. The hydrogen-treated rats showed less severe inflammation, with lower enzyme levels in their blood, less tissue swelling, and better cell recovery compared to the control group. The study suggests hydrogen may work by reducing harmful molecules called free radicals and calming inflammatory pathways in the pancreas.
Practical Takeaway
This is an early-stage animal study showing hydrogen-rich saline may have protective effects against pancreas inflammation. However, results from rat studies do not automatically translate to humans, and no human trials have tested this approach. Much more research, including human studies, would be needed before drawing conclusions about hydrogen water's usefulness for pancreatic health.
Abstract
Molecular hydrogen, which reacts with the hydroxyl radical, has been considered as a novel antioxidant. Here, we evaluated the protective effects of hydrogen-rich saline on the l-arginine (l-Arg)-induced acute pancreatitis (AP). AP was induced in Sprague-Dawley rats by giving two intraperitoneal injections of l-Arg, each at concentrations of 250mg/100g body weight, with an interval of 1h. Hydrogen-rich saline (>0.6mM, 6ml/kg) or saline (6ml/kg) was administered, respectively, via tail vein 15min after each l-Arg administration. Severity of AP was assessed by analysis of serum amylase activity, pancreatic water content and histology. Samples of pancreas were taken for measuring malondialdehyde and myeloperoxidase. Apoptosis in pancreatic acinar cell was determined with terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated deoxyuridine triphosphate nick-end labeling technique (TUNEL). Expression of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) and nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kappaB) were detected with immunohistochemistry. Hydrogen-rich saline treatment significantly attenuated the severity of l-Arg-induced AP by ameliorating the increased serum amylase activity, inhibiting neutrophil infiltration, lipid oxidation and pancreatic tissue edema. Moreover, hydrogen-rich saline treatment could promote acinar cell proliferation, inhibit apoptosis and NF-kappaB activation. These results indicate that hydrogen treatment has a protective effect against AP, and the effect is possibly due to its ability to inhibit oxidative stress, apoptosis, NF-kappaB activation and to promote acinar cell proliferation.