Hydrogen Water Prevents Bone Loss in Rats After Ovary Removal
- Authors
- Ji-Dong Guo, Li Li, Ya-Min Shi, Hua-Dong Wang, Shu-Xun Hou
- Journal
- British Journal of Pharmacology
- Year
- 2013
- DOI
- 10.1111/bph.12036
- Study Type
- Rat
- Outcome
- Positive
- Peer Reviewed
- Yes
- Country
- China
- Health Condition
- Osteoporosis
- Body System
- Skeletal
TL;DR
Drinking hydrogen-enriched water helped prevent bone loss and maintain bone strength in rats without ovaries, likely by reducing harmful oxidative stress.
Key Finding
Hydrogen water prevented bone loss and preserved bone strength and structure in ovariectomized rats, possibly by reducing oxidative stress caused by estrogen withdrawal.
Summary
This study tested whether hydrogen water could help prevent bone loss in rats that had their ovaries removed (a model for postmenopausal bone loss in humans). Rats drinking hydrogen water for 3 months maintained stronger bones with better density and structure compared to untreated rats, and showed reduced markers of oxidative stress (cellular damage) and inflammation in their bones.
Practical Takeaway
This is an early-stage animal study that suggests hydrogen water may help protect bone health in conditions involving estrogen deficiency, but human studies are needed before any conclusions can be drawn about its use for osteoporosis prevention. The study did not test hydrogen water in people, so its relevance to human bone health remains unknown.
Abstract
Background and PurposeAccumulating evidence indicates an important role of oxidative stress in the progression of osteoporosis. Recently, it was demonstrated that hydrogen gas, as a novel antioxidant, could selectively reduce hydroxyl radicals and peroxynitrite anion to exert potent therapeutic antioxidant activity. The aim of the present work was to investigate the effect of hydrogen water (HW) consumption on ovariectomy‐induced osteoporosis.Experimental ApproachOvariectomized rats were fed with HW (1.3 ± 0.2 mg·L−1) for 3 months. Then, blood was collected and femur and vertebrae were removed for evaluation of the effect of HW on bone.Key ResultsHW consumption in ovariectomized rats had no significant effect on oestrogen production, but prevented the reduction of bone mass including bone mineral content and bone mineral density in femur and vertebrae, and preserved mechanical strength including ultimate load, stiffness, and energy, and bone structure including trabecular bone volume fraction, trabecular number, and trabecular thickness in femur, and preserved mechanical strength including ultimate load and stiffness, and bone structure including trabecular bone volume fraction and trabecular number in vertebrae. In addition, treatment with HW abated oxidative stress and suppressed IL‐6 and TNF‐α mRNA expressions in femur of ovariectomized rats; treatment with HW increased femur endothelial NOS activity and enhanced circulating NO level in ovariectomized rats.Conclusions and ImplicationsHW consumption prevents osteopenia in ovariectomized rats possibly through the ablation of oxidative stress induced by oestrogen withdrawal.