Hydrogen Water Prevents Heart Disease Risk in Gum Disease Study

Summary by Hydrogen Studies Editorial Team · Updated

Authors
Journal
Archives of Oral Biology
Year
DOI
10.1016/j.archoralbio.2012.04.013
Study Type
Rat
Outcome
Positive
Peer Reviewed
Yes
Country
Japan
Health Condition
Periodontitis
Body System
Cardiovascular

TL;DR

Drinking hydrogen-rich water may help prevent the buildup of fats in the blood vessels of rats with gum disease, potentially reducing the risk of heart disease.

Key Finding

Rats with gum disease that drank hydrogen-rich water had significantly less fat deposits in their aorta and lower levels of oxidative stress markers compared to rats with gum disease that did not receive hydrogen water.

Summary

This study tested whether hydrogen-rich water could prevent heart vessel damage in rats with gum disease. Researchers induced gum disease in rats and gave some of them water containing dissolved hydrogen for 4 weeks. Rats that drank hydrogen-rich water showed less fat buildup in their aorta (the main artery from the heart) and lower levels of harmful oxidized cholesterol and inflammatory markers compared to rats with gum disease that didn't receive the hydrogen water.

Practical Takeaway

This early animal study suggests hydrogen-rich water may help reduce cardiovascular damage linked to gum disease by lowering oxidative stress. However, this was a small rat study (18 total animals), so results cannot be directly applied to humans. Human clinical trials would be needed to determine if hydrogen water has similar protective effects in people with periodontal disease.

Abstract (excerpt)

Objective: Periodontitis has been causally linked to atherosclerosis, which is mediated by the oxidative stress. As hydrogen-rich water (HW) scavenges reactive oxygen species (ROS), we hypothesized that HW could prevent lipid deposition induced by periodontitis in the aorta. The aim of this study…

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