Hydrogen Saline Prevents Cataracts in Rats by Fighting Oxidative Stress
- Authors
- Chun-Xiao Yang, Hong Yan, Tian-Bing Ding
- Journal
- Molecular Vision
- Year
- 2013
- Study Type
- Rat
- Outcome
- Positive
- Peer Reviewed
- Yes
- Country
- China
- Health Condition
- Cataracts
- Body System
- Visual System
TL;DR
Hydrogen saline treatment can help prevent cataracts in rats by boosting the eye's natural antioxidant defenses.
Key Finding
Hydrogen saline treatment significantly reduced cataract development in rats exposed to a cataract-causing chemical, with the protective effect linked to enhanced antioxidant enzyme activity and reduced oxidative stress markers.
Summary
Researchers gave young rats a chemical that causes cataracts (clouding of the lens), then treated some of them with hydrogen saline (salt water containing dissolved hydrogen gas). Rats that received hydrogen saline developed less clouding than untreated rats. The hydrogen saline appeared to work by boosting the rats' natural antioxidant defenses (molecules that protect cells from damage) and reducing harmful oxidative stress in the lens.
Practical Takeaway
This is early animal-only research showing hydrogen saline may help prevent cataracts caused by oxidative stress in rats. Much more research—including human studies—would be needed before any conclusions about hydrogen water and cataract prevention in people could be drawn. The findings are interesting but do not yet support health claims for consumers.
Abstract
The aim of this study was to investigate the potential antioxidative effect and mechanism for the protective effects of hydrogen saline on selenite-induced cataract in rats. Sprague-Dawley rat pups were divided into the following groups: control (Group A), selenite induced (Group B), and selenite plus hydrogen saline treated (Group C). Rat pups in Groups B and C received a single subcutaneous injection of sodium selenite (25 μmol/kg bodyweight) on postnatal day 12. Group C also received an intraperitoneal injection of H2 saline (5 ml/kg bodyweight) daily from postnatal day 8 to postnatal day 17. The development of cataract was assessed weekly by slit-lamp examination for 2 weeks. After sacrifice, extricated lenses were analyzed for activities of superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione reductase, and glutathione S-transferase, levels of malondialdehyde, reduced glutathione (GSH), and total sulfhydryl contents. The magnitude of lens opacification in Group B was significantly higher than in Group A (p<0.05), while Group C had less opacification than Group B (p<0.05). Compared with Group B, the mean activities of the antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione reductase, and glutathione S-transferase, levels of GSH, and total sulfhydryl contents were higher, whereas the level of malondialdehyde was lower following treatment with hydrogen saline(p<0.05). This is an initial report showing that hydrogen saline can prevent selenite-induced cataract in rats. It acts via maintaining antioxidant enzymes and GSH, protecting the sulfhydryl group, and inhibiting lipid peroxidation.