Hydrogen Water Shows Promise for Autism-Like Behaviors in Mice Study
- Authors
- Qingjun Guo, Xi Yin, Meng Qiao, yujiao Jia, Dandan Chen, Juan Shao, Tyler W. Lebaron, Yuan Gao, Haishui Shi, Bin Jia
- Journal
- Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience
- Year
- 2018
- DOI
- 10.3389/fnbeh.2018.00170
- Study Type
- Mouse
- Outcome
- Positive
- Peer Reviewed
- Yes
- Country
- China
- Health Condition
- Autism Spectrum Disorder
- Body System
- Nervous System
TL;DR
Drinking hydrogen-rich water (HRW) may help improve behaviors similar to autism in young mice that were exposed to a drug called valproic acid while in the womb.
Key Finding
Hydrogen-rich water reversed autism-like behavioral abnormalities in young mice whose mothers were exposed to valproic acid during pregnancy, with improvements linked to reduced inflammatory markers.
Summary
Researchers exposed pregnant mice to valproic acid (a medication that can cause autism-like behaviors in offspring) and then gave some of the offspring hydrogen-rich water during different time periods after birth. Compared to offspring that received regular water, those given hydrogen-rich water showed improvements in social interaction, anxiety-like behaviors, and other autism-related behaviors. The improvement appeared linked to changes in inflammatory markers (immune system chemicals) in the blood.
Practical Takeaway
This is an early-stage animal study that suggests hydrogen-rich water may influence inflammation-related pathways relevant to autism development. However, results in mice do not automatically translate to humans, and much more research—including human studies—would be needed before any conclusions about autism prevention or treatment could be drawn.
Abstract
Due to its anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative effects, recent research has demonstrated that molecular hydrogen can serve as a new medical approach for depression, anxiety and traumatic brain injury. However, its potential effects on neurodevelopmental diseases, such as autism are still elusive. The present study aims to investigate the potential effects of hydrogen-rich water (HRW) administration on valproic acid (VPA)-induced autistic-like behavioral deficits, and the associated underlying mechanism in adolescent mice offspring. Pregnant ICR mice were randomly divided into five groups (n = 6). One group was injected with saline (NAV group) and provided hydrogen-free water. The other four groups were injected with VPA (600 mg/kg, intraperitoneally, i.p.) on pregnant day (PND) 12.5. One group was provided with hydrogen-free water (VEH group) and the other three groups were provided HRW at different segments, postnatal day 1 (PND 1) to PND 21 (PHV group), PND 13 to PND 21 (PVS group) or from PND 13 to postnatal day 42 (PVL group). Behavioral tests, including open field, novelty suppressed feeding (NSF), hot plate, social interaction (SI) and contextual fear memory tests were conducted between postnatal day 35-42. We found that HRW administration significantly reversed the autistic-like behaviors induced by maternal VPA exposure in the adolescent offspring of both male and female adolescent offspring. Furthermore, HRW administration significantly reversed the alternation of serum levels of interleukin 6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), but without any effects on the BDNF levels in maternal VPA-exposed mice offspring. These data suggest the need for additional research on HRW as a potential preventive strategy for autism and related disorders. Lay Summary: Maternal VPA injection induces autistic-like behavioral deficits in adolescent mice offspring. HRW administration ameliorates autistic-like behavioral deficits. HRW administration reverses the alternation of serum levels of IL-6 and TNF-α induced by VPA.