Hydrogen Water Speeds Pressure Ulcer Healing in Elderly Patients
- Authors
- Qiang Li, Shinya Kato, Daigo Matsuoka, Hiroshi Tanaka, Nobuhiko Miwa
- Journal
- Medical Gas Research
- Year
- 2013
- DOI
- 10.1186/2045-9912-3-20
- Study Type
- Human
- Outcome
- Positive
- Peer Reviewed
- Yes
- Country
- Japan
- Health Condition
- Pressure Ulcers
- Body System
- Integumentary
TL;DR
Drinking water with dissolved hydrogen may help heal bedsores faster in elderly patients who are bedridden.
Key Finding
Elderly hospitalized patients with pressure ulcers who received hydrogen water via tube-feeding experienced approximately 28% shorter hospitalization periods compared to those with less favorable outcomes, with significant wound size reduction observed in both treatment groups.
Summary
This study examined whether hydrogen-enriched water given through a feeding tube could help elderly hospitalized patients heal pressure ulcers (bedsores). Twenty-two severely ill patients received 600 mL of hydrogen water daily along with standard wound care. Patients who responded well to treatment spent about 28% fewer days in the hospital than those who responded less well. Laboratory experiments showed that hydrogen water reduced harmful molecules called reactive oxygen species in skin cells and helped preserve important proteins needed for wound healing.
Practical Takeaway
This small study suggests hydrogen water may support pressure ulcer healing in severely ill elderly patients, though the research is limited to hospitalized individuals receiving tube-feeding and lacks a control group that received standard care without hydrogen water. More rigorous studies comparing hydrogen water directly to standard treatment alone would be needed to confirm these findings in broader populations.
Abstract (excerpt)
Background: Pressure ulcer (PU) is common in immobile elderly patients, and there are some research works to investigate a preventive and curative method, but not to find sufficient effectiveness. The aim of this study is to clarify the clinical effectiveness on wound healing in patients with PU…