Hydrogen Therapy Prevents Artery Narrowing After Balloon Surgery
Hydrogen-rich saline attenuates vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation and neointimal hyperplasia by inhibiting reactive oxygen species production and inactivating the Ras-ERK1/2-MEK1/2 and Akt pathways
Research hubs: Cardiovascular System
- Evidence type
- Animal study (rat)
- Authors
- Yali Chen, Jinyao Jiang, Huibing Miao, Xingjuan Chen, Xuejun Sun, Yongjun Li
- Journal
- International Journal of Molecular Medicine
- Year
- 2013
- DOI
- 10.3892/ijmm.2013.1256
- Study Type
- Rat
- Outcome
- Positive
- Peer Reviewed
- Yes
- Country
- China
- Health Condition
- Restenosis
- Body System
- Cardiovascular
This research was done in animals. Results in animals often don't carry over to people.
TL;DR
A saline solution rich in hydrogen can prevent the excessive growth of the inner layers of arteries following injury by blocking certain cell growth pathways.
Key Finding
Hydrogen-rich saline significantly reduced abnormal thickening of blood vessel walls in rats and slowed the growth of vessel cells in laboratory tests by suppressing harmful molecules and blocking cell growth pathways.
Summary
Researchers tested whether hydrogen-rich saline could prevent the thickening of blood vessel walls that sometimes occurs after balloon angioplasty (a procedure to open clogged arteries). Using rats and laboratory-grown vessel cells, they found that hydrogen-rich saline reduced this unwanted thickening by lowering harmful molecules called reactive oxygen species and blocking certain cell growth signals.
Practical Takeaway
This is early-stage research conducted in rats and laboratory cells, not humans. While the results suggest hydrogen-rich saline may help prevent vessel re-narrowing after angioplasty, much more research—including human trials—would be needed before any clinical use. The study does not support using hydrogen water as a health supplement based on these findings alone.
Abstract (excerpt)
Hydrogen-rich saline has been reported to prevent neointimal hyperplasia induced by carotid balloon injury. The purpose of the present study was to further investigate the molecular mechanisms underlying this phenomenon. Daily injection of a hydrogen-rich saline solution (HRSS) in rats was employed…