Hydrogen Water Protects Brain Cells from Damage in Lab Study
Hydrogenized Water Effects on Protection of Brain Cells from Oxidative Stress and Glutamate Toxicity
Research hubs: Oxidative Stress · Brain & Nervous System
This research was done on cells or tissue in a lab, not in people or animals.
- Evidence type
- Laboratory study (cells or tissue)
- Authors
- Robert Settineri, Jie Zhou, Jin Ji, Rita R. Ellithorpe, Steven Rosenblatt, Antonio Jimenez, Shigeo Ohta, Gonzalo Ferreira, Garth L. Nicolson
- Journal
- American Journal of Food and Nutrition
- Year
- 2018
- Study Type
- Cell Culture
- Delivery
- Water, Commercial (Izumio)
- Dose
- H2 concentrations above 0.01 mM in cultured medium
- H₂ concentration
- 0.01-0.05 mM
- Outcome
- Positive
- Peer Reviewed
- Yes
- Cited by
- 3 (OpenAlex, as of November 2026)
- Country
- United States
TL;DR
Hydrogen-rich water helps protect brain cells from damage caused by oxidative stress and harmful substances like glutamate.
Key Finding
Hydrogen-enriched water protected cultured human brain cells from oxidative stress and glutamate damage at relatively low concentrations, while also boosting the cells' natural antioxidant defenses through increased glutathione and Nrf2 activation.
Summary
Researchers tested hydrogen-enriched water on human brain cells grown in a laboratory to see if it could protect them from damage. They found that hydrogen water increased levels of glutathione (a natural protective molecule in cells), activated a cellular defense pathway called Nrf2, and protected brain cells from two types of damage: oxidative stress (harmful chemical reactions) and glutamate toxicity (damage from excess glutamate, a brain chemical).
Practical Takeaway
This laboratory study suggests hydrogen water may have neuroprotective properties, but it was conducted only in cultured cells—not in living organisms or humans. Much more research, including animal and human studies, would be needed before any health claims could be made about hydrogen water's effects on brain health in real people.
Abstract (excerpt)
Hydrogenized water is known to have protective effects on cells and tissues, mainly through its antioxidant activities. Here we examined the protective effects of a commercial source of hydrogenized water on cultured human brain cells. Hydrogenized water was able to protect brain cells…