Hydrogen Water Protects Ovarian Function in Fertility Study
- Authors
- Xin He, Shu-Yu Wang, Cheng-Hong Yin, Tong Wang, Chan-Wei Jia, Yan-Min Ma
- Journal
- Chinese Medical Journal
- Year
- 2016
- DOI
- 10.4103/0366-6999.190668
- Study Type
- Mouse
- Outcome
- Positive
- Peer Reviewed
- Yes
- Country
- China
- Health Condition
- Premature Ovarian Failure
- Body System
- Reproductive
TL;DR
Drinking hydrogen-rich water may help protect against premature ovarian failure (POF) in mice by increasing fertility markers and decreasing cell death in the ovaries.
Key Finding
In mice with immune-induced premature ovarian failure, hydrogen-rich water increased anti-Müllerian hormone levels (a marker of ovarian reserve) and reduced ovarian cell death compared to untreated mice with the condition.
Summary
Researchers tested whether hydrogen-rich water could help protect ovarian function in mice with a condition similar to premature ovarian failure (early loss of egg-producing ability). Mice that drank hydrogen-rich water showed higher levels of a hormone that indicates ovarian reserve, lower rates of cell death in the ovaries, and changes in proteins that protect cells from damage compared to mice with the condition that drank regular water.
Practical Takeaway
This early-stage mouse study suggests hydrogen-rich water may help protect ovarian function in immune-related fertility problems, but it is not yet clear whether these results would apply to humans. Much more research, including human clinical trials, would be needed before any health recommendations could be made.
Abstract
Background: Premature ovarian failure (POF) is a disease that affects female fertility but has few effective treatments. Ovarian reserve function plays an important role in female fertility. Recent studies have reported that hydrogen can protect male fertility. Therefore, we explored the potential protective effect of hydrogen-rich water on ovarian reserve function through a mouse immune POF model. Methods: To set up immune POF model, fifty female BALB/c mice were randomly divided into four groups: Control (mice consumed normal water, n = 10), hydrogen (mice consumed hydrogen-rich water, n = 10), model (mice were immunized with zona pellucida glycoprotein 3 [ZP3] and consumed normal water, n = 15), and model-hydrogen (mice were immunized with ZP3 and consumed hydrogen-rich water, n = 15) groups. After 5 weeks, mice were sacrificed. Serum anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) levels, granulosa cell (GC) apoptotic index (AI), B-cell leukemia/lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2), and BCL2-associated X protein (Bax) expression were examined. Analyses were performed using SPSS 17.0 (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA) software. Results: Immune POF model, model group exhibited markedly reduced serum AMH levels compared with those of the control group (5.41 ± 0.91 ng/ml vs. 16.23 ± 1.97 ng/ml, P = 0.033) and the hydrogen group (19.65 ± 7.82 ng/ml, P = 0.006). The model-hydrogen group displayed significantly higher AMH concentrations compared with that of the model group (15.03 ± 2.75 ng/ml vs. 5.41 ± 0.91 ng/ml, P = 0.021). The GC AI was significantly higher in the model group (21.30 ± 1.74%) than those in the control (7.06 ± 0.27%), hydrogen (5.17 ± 0.41%), and model-hydrogen groups (11.24 ± 0.58%) (all P < 0.001). The GC AI was significantly higher in the model-hydrogen group compared with that of the hydrogen group (11.24 ± 0.58% vs. 5.17 ± 0.41%, P = 0.021). Compared with those of the model group, ovarian tissue Bcl-2 levels increased (2.18 ± 0.30 vs. 3.01 ± 0.33, P = 0.045) and the Bax/Bcl-2 ratio decreased in the model-hydrogen group. Conclusions: Hydrogen-rich water may improve serum AMH levels and reduce ovarian GC apoptosis in a mouse immune POF model induced by ZP3.