Hydrogen Water Protects Skin from UV Damage in Animal Study
- Authors
- Ze Guo
- Journal
- Journal of Biomedical Research
- Year
- 2012
- DOI
- 10.7555/JBR.26.20110037
- Study Type
- Rat
- Outcome
- Positive
- Peer Reviewed
- Yes
- Country
- China
- Health Condition
- UV-Induced Skin Damage
- Body System
- Integumentary
TL;DR
Hydrogen-rich saline may protect skin from sun damage by reducing inflammation and oxidative stress.
Key Finding
Hydrogen-rich saline reduced skin damage and inflammatory markers in rats exposed to UVB radiation, suggesting it may protect against UV-induced skin injury by reducing oxidative stress.
Summary
Researchers exposed rats to ultraviolet B (UVB) radiation, which damages skin by creating harmful molecules called reactive oxygen species. They then gave some rats hydrogen-rich saline (salt water containing dissolved hydrogen gas) through injection. The hydrogen-rich saline reduced skin damage and lowered markers of inflammation and oxidative stress (cellular damage from harmful molecules) compared to a control treatment.
Practical Takeaway
This is an early-stage animal study showing hydrogen-rich saline may help protect against UV skin damage. However, the study was conducted in rats using injection rather than drinking hydrogen water, so results may not directly apply to humans or other delivery methods. Much more research, including human trials, would be needed before drawing conclusions about practical benefits for sun protection.
Abstract
Exposure of skin to solar ultraviolet (UV) radiation induces photo-damage. Ultraviolet B (UVB) is the major component of UV radiation which induces the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and plays an important role in photo-damage. Hydrogen gas reduces ROS and alleviates inflammation. In this study, we sought to demonstrate that hydrogen-rich saline has the effect on skin injuries caused by UVB radiation. UVB radiation was irradiated on female C57BL/6 rats to induce skin injury. Hydrogen-rich saline and nitrogen-rich saline were administered to rats by intraperitoneal injection. Skin damage was detected by microscope after injury. UVB radiation had a significant affection in tumor necrosis factor alpha, interleukin (IL)-1β and IL-6 levels, tissue superoxide dismutase, malondialdehyde and nitric oxide activity. Hydrogen-rich saline had a protective effect by altering the levels of these markers and relieved morphological skin injury. Hydrogen-rich saline protected against UVB radiation injury, possibly by reducing inflammation and oxidative stress.