Hydrogen Water Protects Heart During Bypass Surgery in Rats
Hydrogen‑rich solution attenuates myocardial injury caused by cardiopulmonary bypass in rats via the Janus‑activated kinase 2/signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 signaling pathway
Research hubs: Cardiovascular System
This research was done in animals. Results in animals often don't carry over to people.
- Evidence type
- Animal study (rat)
- Authors
- Keyan Chen, Yingjie Sun, Yugang Diao, Tiezheng Zhang, Wanwei Dong
- Journal
- Oncology Letters
- Year
- 2018
- PMID
- 29928398
- Study Type
- Rat
- Delivery
- Saline (Dissolved)
- Outcome
- Positive
- Peer Reviewed
- Yes
- Cited by
- 5 (OpenAlex, as of November 2026)
- Country
- China
TL;DR
A hydrogen-rich solution (HRS) may help reduce heart damage and improve heart cell survival during open-heart surgery by affecting certain cell signaling pathways.
Key Finding
Hydrogen-rich solution significantly reduced heart tissue damage and cell death in rats undergoing cardiopulmonary bypass surgery, with protection dependent on activation of the JAK2/STAT3 cellular signaling pathway.
Summary
This rat study tested whether hydrogen-rich salt water could protect heart tissue from damage during heart-lung machine surgery. Researchers found that hydrogen-rich solution reduced markers of cell damage and inflammation in the heart, and activated a protective cellular pathway called JAK2/STAT3. When they disabled the JAK2 pathway using genetic techniques, the protective effects largely disappeared, suggesting this pathway is crucial for hydrogen's benefits.
Practical Takeaway
This is early-stage animal research showing hydrogen-rich solution may protect heart tissue during major surgery, but human studies are needed before any clinical application. The findings are limited to rats and do not yet indicate whether hydrogen water would have similar effects in people undergoing heart surgery.
Abstract (excerpt)
The incidence of complications and mortality following open-heart surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) is associated with the severity of the myocardial injury that occurs during surgery. Hydrogen-rich solution (HRS) may prevent antioxidant stress and inhibit apoptosis and inflammation…