Hydrogen Water Reduces Eczema Severity in Lab Mice Study
- Authors
- Takuya Kajisa, Takuji Yamaguchi, Ailing Hu, Nobuhiro Suetake, Hiroyuki Kobayashi
- Journal
- Saudi Medical Journal
- Year
- 2017
- DOI
- 10.15537/smj.2017.9.20807
- Study Type
- Mouse
- Outcome
- Positive
- Peer Reviewed
- Yes
- Country
- Japan
- Health Condition
- Atopic Dermatitis
- Body System
- Integumentary
TL;DR
Drinking hydrogen water reduced skin inflammation and improved symptoms in mice with a condition similar to human eczema.
Key Finding
Hydrogen water treatment significantly reduced atopic dermatitis severity in mice by decreasing inflammatory markers (IL-1β and IL-33), mast cell infiltration, and transepidermal water loss compared to regular water.
Summary
Researchers gave mice with atopic dermatitis (a chronic skin condition causing itching and inflammation) either hydrogen water or regular purified water for 4 weeks. The mice drinking hydrogen water showed significant improvements: their skin lesions were less severe, their skin lost less water, and they had lower levels of inflammatory molecules (IL-1β and IL-33) and fewer immune cells called mast cells in their skin compared to the control group.
Practical Takeaway
This mouse study suggests hydrogen water may have anti-inflammatory effects relevant to atopic dermatitis, but it is an early-stage animal study only. Human clinical trials would be needed to determine whether these results apply to people with atopic dermatitis. Anyone with atopic dermatitis should consult their dermatologist before trying hydrogen water as a treatment.
Abstract
Objectives: To examine the effect of hydrogen water (HW) on the severity of atopic dermatitis (AD) and elucidate the underlying pathophysiological mechanisms. Methods: For this experimental study between March 2015 and December 2015, NC/Nga mice characterized by mild AD severity were given either HW (n=11) or purified water (PW) (n=9) ad libitum; specific-pathogen-free mice (n=9) were used as AD-free control. Atopic dermatitis severity score and transepidermal water loss (TEWL) were examined at baseline (0 week), and after 4 weeks of HW/PW treatment. Levels of serum thymus and activation-regulated chemokine (TARC) and cytokines in the AD lesion were measured by ELISA; and mRNA expression of TARC and aquaporin (AQP-3) genes in the skin was examined by real-time polymerase chain reaction. Results: Mice treated with HW for 4 weeks demonstrated a significant decrease in the AD severity score compared with PW-treated mice (p less than 0.01). Hydrogen water administration also significantly reduced TEWL and serum TARC levels (p less than 0.01), infiltration of mast cells (p less than 0.05), and secretion of the proinflammatory cytokines interleukin (IL)-1β and IL-33 (p less than 0.05) in skin lesions compared with PW. However, no difference was observed between PW and HW groups in interferon-γ secretion and expression of AQP-3 and TARC genes. Conclusion: Hydrogen water suppressed inflammation in AD mice, leading to amelioration of disease severity, which suggests the therapeutic potential of HW in AD treatment.