Hydrogen-Rich Water and Graft-versus-Host Disease in Mice
Hydrogen-Rich Water Ameliorates Murine Chronic Graft-versus-Host Disease through Antioxidation
Research hubs: Immune System · Skin & Dermatology System
This research was done in animals. Results in animals often don't carry over to people.
- Evidence type
- Animal study (mouse)
- Authors
- Li-Ren Qian, Jiaxin Liu, Weina Ma, Yu Liu, Xiaona Wang, Daihong Liu
- Journal
- Oxidative Medicine and Cellular Longevity
- Year
- 2021
- PMID
- 34691352
- Study Type
- Mouse
- Delivery
- Water (Dissolved)
- Dose
- oral administration hydrogen-rich water
- Duration
- 3 months
- Outcome
- Positive
- Peer Reviewed
- Yes
- Cited by
- 9 (OpenAlex, as of November 2026)
- Country
- China
TL;DR
Drinking hydrogen-rich water improved survival and reduced symptoms in a mouse model of a serious post-transplant complication.
Key Finding
Mice with chronic graft-versus-host disease that received hydrogen-rich water had a 93.3% survival rate compared to 66.7% in untreated mice, along with significantly improved skin symptoms and reduced markers of cellular damage.
Summary
Researchers tested whether hydrogen-rich water could help mice with chronic graft-versus-host disease (cGVHD), a serious complication that occurs after bone marrow transplants. Mice that drank hydrogen-rich water had better survival rates, improved skin symptoms, and showed signs of reduced cellular damage compared to mice that didn't receive it. The improvement appeared to work by reducing oxidative stress (cellular damage from harmful molecules) and preventing cell death.
Practical Takeaway
This early-stage mouse study suggests hydrogen-rich water may help with graft-versus-host disease complications after bone marrow transplants, but these results cannot yet be applied to humans. Much more research, including clinical trials in transplant patients, would be needed before hydrogen-rich water could be considered a treatment option for this serious condition.
Abstract (excerpt)
Background. Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo‐HSCT) is an important treatment option for various hematopoietic diseases and certain hereditary diseases. Chronic graft‐versus‐host disease (cGVHD) has become the main life‐threatening complication and cause of death in later…