Hydrogen Therapy Speeds Nerve Healing After Surgery in Rats
Hydrogen-rich saline promotes motor functional recovery following peripheral nerve autografting in rats
Research hubs: Brain & Nervous System · Musculoskeletal System
This research was done in animals. Results in animals often don't carry over to people.
- Evidence type
- Animal study (rat)
- Authors
- Yong-Guang Zhang, Qing-Song Sheng, Zhi-Jun Wang, Li Lv, Wei Zhao, Jian-Mei Chen, Hao Xu
- Journal
- Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine
- Year
- 2015
- PMID
- 26622383
- Study Type
- Rat
- Delivery
- Saline (Dissolved)
- Dose
- 5 ml/kg hydrogen-rich saline intraperitoneally daily
- Outcome
- Positive
- Peer Reviewed
- Yes
- Cited by
- 4 (OpenAlex, as of November 2026)
- Country
- China
TL;DR
Hydrogen-rich saline improves nerve healing and function after severe nerve injury in rats.
Key Finding
Rats treated with hydrogen-rich saline after peripheral nerve surgery showed significantly better axonal regeneration (nerve fiber regrowth) and functional motor recovery compared to control animals.
Summary
Researchers tested whether hydrogen-rich saline could help nerve healing in rats that had undergone surgery to repair a 10-millimeter gap in the sciatic nerve (a major nerve in the leg). Rats that received daily injections of hydrogen-rich saline showed better nerve fiber regrowth and improved motor function compared to rats that received regular saline, suggesting hydrogen's antioxidant (damage-fighting) properties may protect nerve tissue.
Practical Takeaway
This rat study suggests hydrogen-rich saline may support nerve healing, but it is early-stage animal research only. Before any conclusions can be drawn for human nerve injury treatment, the findings would need to be tested in human clinical trials. The study does not establish whether hydrogen water taken orally would have similar effects.
Abstract (excerpt)
Despite the application of nerve grafts and considerable microsurgical innovations, the functional recovery across a long peripheral nerve gap is generally partial and unsatisfactory. Thus, additional strategies are required to improve nerve regeneration across long nerve gaps. Hydrogen possesses…