Hydrogen Water Speeds Up Mouth Wound Healing in Rats
Hydrogen-Rich Water Intake Accelerates Oral Palatal Wound Healing via Activation of the Nrf2/Antioxidant Defense Pathways in a Rat Model
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 (rat)
- Authors
- Naofumi Tamaki, Rita Cristina Orihuela-Campos, Makoto Fukui, Hiro-O Ito
- Journal
- Oxidative Medicine and Cellular Longevity
- Year
- 2016
- PMID
- 26798423
- Study Type
- Rat
- Delivery
- Water (Dissolved)
- Dose
- hydrogen-rich water consumed ad libitum
- Outcome
- Positive
- Peer Reviewed
- Yes
- Cited by
- 62 (OpenAlex, as of November 2026)
- Country
- Japan
TL;DR
Drinking hydrogen-rich water can speed up the healing of mouth wounds in rats by reducing inflammation and oxidative stress.
Key Finding
Rats that drank hydrogen-rich water showed accelerated oral wound healing compared to controls, with activation of antioxidant defense pathways and reduced inflammatory markers.
Summary
Researchers gave rats with mouth wounds either hydrogen-rich water or regular water to drink and tracked how quickly the wounds healed. The rats drinking hydrogen-rich water healed faster. The study found that hydrogen activated a cellular defense system (called Nrf2) that reduced harmful molecules called free radicals and decreased inflammatory chemicals in the rats' bodies, which helped the healing process.
Practical Takeaway
While this rat study suggests hydrogen-rich water may support wound healing through antioxidant mechanisms, it's important to note this was only tested in animals. Human studies would be needed to determine if these effects apply to people. The study does not provide information about sample size or duration, which limits how much weight can be placed on these findings.
Abstract (excerpt)
The wound healing process attempts to restore the integrity and function of the injured tissue. Additionally, proinflammatory cytokines, growth factors, and oxidative stress play important roles in wound healing. The aim of this study was to determine whether hydrogen-rich water intake induces…