Hydrogen Water Reduces Nerve Pain After Shingles in Rats
- Authors
- Hongtao Ma, Hongguang Chen, Aili Dong, Yanyan Wang, Yingxue Bian, Ke-Liang Xie
- Journal
- Chinese Journal of Cellular and Molecular Immunology
- Year
- 2017
- Study Type
- Rat
- Outcome
- Positive
- Peer Reviewed
- Yes
- Country
- China
- Health Condition
- Post-herpetic Neuralgia
- Body System
- Nervous System
TL;DR
Hydrogen-rich saline may help reduce nerve pain and inflammation in rats with post-herpetic neuralgia by activating a cellular cleanup process called autophagy.
Key Finding
Hydrogen-rich saline reduced pain sensitivity and decreased inflammatory markers (TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6) in rats with post-herpetic neuralgia, with the effect appearing to depend on activation of autophagy pathways.
Summary
Researchers gave rats with post-herpetic neuralgia (nerve pain following shingles infection) injections of hydrogen-rich saline and measured their pain sensitivity and inflammation markers. Rats treated with hydrogen-rich saline showed reduced pain sensitivity and lower levels of inflammatory proteins in their spinal cords. The effect appeared to work by activating autophagy, a cellular cleanup process.
Practical Takeaway
This rat study suggests hydrogen-rich saline may help reduce neuropathic pain through anti-inflammatory mechanisms, but these results cannot yet be applied to humans. Further research in human subjects would be needed to determine if similar effects occur in people with shingles-related nerve pain.
Abstract (excerpt)
Objective: To investigate the role of autophagy in hydrogen-rich saline attenuating post-herpetic neuralgia( PHN) in rats. Methods: A total of 100 male SD rats were randomly divided into the five groups( n = 20) : control group,PHN group,PHN group treated with hydrogen-rich saline( PHN-H2group),PHN…