Hydrogen-Rich Saline Protects Heart Function During Sepsis in Rats
Hydrogen-Rich Saline Attenuates Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Heart Dysfunction by Restoring Fatty Acid Oxidation in Rats by Mitigating C-Jun N-Terminal Kinase Activation
Research hubs: Cardiovascular System
This research was done in animals. Results in animals often don't carry over to people.
- Evidence type
- Animal study (rat)
- Authors
- Bingdong Tao, Lidan Liu, Ni Wang, Dongyi Tong, Wei Wang, Jin Zhang
- Journal
- Shock
- Year
- 2015
- PMID
- 26565704
- Study Type
- Rat
- Participants
- 4
- Delivery
- Saline (Dissolved)
- Dose
- intraperitoneal injection of hydrogen-rich saline
- Duration
- 1 day or less
- Outcome
- Positive
- Peer Reviewed
- Yes
- Cited by
- 18 (OpenAlex, as of November 2026)
- Country
- China
TL;DR
Hydrogen-rich saline (HRS) helps prevent heart problems caused by sepsis in rats by improving the heart's energy production and reducing inflammation.
Key Finding
Hydrogen-rich saline restored the heart's fatty acid metabolism and improved cardiac function in rats with sepsis-like injury, partly by blocking a harmful inflammatory signaling pathway (JNK activation).
Summary
Researchers tested whether hydrogen-rich saline (a salt solution containing dissolved hydrogen gas) could protect rat hearts from damage caused by lipopolysaccharide, a bacterial toxin that triggers sepsis (a life-threatening infection response). They found that hydrogen-rich saline improved heart function and restored the heart's ability to burn fat for energy, while also reducing activation of a harmful inflammatory pathway called JNK.
Practical Takeaway
This rat study suggests hydrogen-rich saline may help protect heart function during severe infection, but human studies are needed before any conclusions can be drawn about its use in sepsis patients. The findings are limited to an animal model and a single time point (8 hours after treatment).
Abstract (excerpt)
Sepsis is common in intensive care units (ICU) and is associated with high mortality. Cardiac dysfunction complicating sepsis is one of the most important causes of this mortality. This dysfunction is due to myocardial inflammation and reduced production of energy by the heart. A number of studies…