Hydrogen Saline Protects Liver from Surgery Damage in Pig Study
Hydrogen-rich saline protects against small-scale liver ischemia-reperfusion injury by inhibiting endoplasmic reticulum stress
This research was done in animals. Results in animals often don't carry over to people.
- Evidence type
- Animal study (pig)
- Authors
- Hui Li, Ge Bai, Yansong Ge, Qianzhen Zhang, Xiangdong Kong, Weijing Meng, Hong-Bin Wang
- Journal
- Life Sciences
- Year
- 2018
- PMID
- 29253502
- Study Type
- Pig
- Participants
- 18
- Delivery
- Saline (Dissolved)
- Dose
- 10 mL/kg hydrogen-rich saline injected into portal vein 10 minutes before perfusion
- Outcome
- Positive
- Peer Reviewed
- Yes
- Cited by
- 33 (OpenAlex, as of November 2026)
- Country
- China
TL;DR
Hydrogen-rich saline (HRS) may protect the liver from damage caused by blood supply interruption and surgery by reducing cellular stress.
Key Finding
Hydrogen-rich saline reduced liver damage from ischemia-reperfusion injury (temporary loss of blood flow followed by restoration) by suppressing multiple stress-related proteins in liver cells.
Summary
Researchers tested hydrogen-rich saline (a salt solution containing dissolved hydrogen gas) in pigs undergoing liver surgery that temporarily cuts off blood flow to part of the liver. They found that hydrogen-rich saline reduced damage to liver cells by decreasing activity in a cellular stress pathway called endoplasmic reticulum stress, which normally gets activated when tissues don't get enough oxygen.
Practical Takeaway
While this animal study suggests hydrogen-rich saline may protect liver tissue during surgery, it was conducted only in pigs and does not directly demonstrate benefits in humans. More research, including human trials, would be needed before any clinical recommendations could be made.
Abstract (excerpt)
Aim: Our research investigated the role of Hydrogen-rich saline (HRS) on the Endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS) pathway and the effect of HRS on tissue injury in small Bama pig model of hepatic ischemia-reperfusion combined with partial hepatectomy. Main methods: Eighteen healthy Bama miniature…