Hydrogen Water Protects Against Toxin Damage in Young Pigs
- Authors
- Weijiang Zheng, Xu Ji, Qing Zhang, Wenchao Du, Quanwei Wei, Wen Yao
- Journal
- Toxins
- Year
- 2018
- DOI
- 10.3390/toxins10060228
- Study Type
- Pig
- Outcome
- Positive
- Peer Reviewed
- Yes
- Country
- China
- Health Condition
- Mycotoxin Poisoning
- Body System
- Digestive System
TL;DR
Drinking hydrogen-rich water or lactulose helps young pigs grow normally and stay healthier when their food is contaminated with harmful fungi-produced toxins.
Key Finding
Both hydrogen-rich water and lactulose reduced growth suppression and oxidative stress in piglets fed Fusarium mycotoxin-contaminated diets, with improvements in weight gain and feed intake.
Summary
This study tested whether hydrogen-rich water or lactulose (a type of sugar) could protect young female pigs from the harmful effects of eating food contaminated with Fusarium toxins (molds that produce poisonous compounds). Over 25 days, pigs that drank hydrogen-rich water or received lactulose showed better growth and food intake compared to pigs eating contaminated food alone, and both treatments reduced signs of cellular damage (oxidative stress) caused by the toxins.
Practical Takeaway
This is an animal study in pigs, not humans, so results cannot be directly applied to people. While the findings suggest hydrogen-rich water may help protect against mycotoxin-induced damage in livestock, much more research—including human studies—would be needed to determine if similar benefits apply to humans consuming hydrogen water.
Abstract
The objective of the current experiment was to evaluate whether hydrogen-rich water (HRW) or lactulose (LAC) could protect against the adverse effects of Fusarium mycotoxins-contaminated diet on the growth performance and antioxidant status in weaning piglets. A total of 24 individually housed female piglets were randomly assigned to receive four treatments for 25 days (six pigs/treatment): uncontaminated basal diet (negative control), mycotoxin-contaminated (MC) diet, MC diet + HRW (MC + HRW) and MC diet + LAC (MC + LAC). The plasma hydrogen levels before and after 2 h hydrogen-free water/HRW administration were detected at day 21, and the liver hydrogen levels were detected at the end of the experiment. Serum hormones related to appetite regulation, and serum and liver oxidant and antioxidant status were also measured at the end of the experiment. Results showed that both HRW and LAC treatments significantly attenuated the reduction of average daily gain (ADG) and average daily feed intake (ADFI) caused by Fusarium mycotoxins. LAC administration increased the hydrogen concentrations in plasma and liver. HRW treated group had higher plasma hydrogen levels than the MC group. Compared with the NC group, the MC group had significantly increased serum peptide YY (PYY) and cholecystokinin (CCK) levels. Interestingly, both HRW and LAC administrations had a lower reduced serum PYY and CKK levels. Most importantly, oral administration of HRW and LAC attenuated the Fusarium mycotoxins-induced oxidative stress. In conclusion, oral administration of hydrogen-rich water or lactulose could both protect against the growth reduction and oxidative damage caused by Fusarium mycotoxins.