Hydrogen Water Protects Heart and Kidneys from Injury in Rats
- Authors
- W.-J. Zhu, M. Nakayama, T. Mori, K. Nakayama, J. Katoh, Y. Murata, T. Sato, S. Kabayama, S. Ito
- Journal
- Nephrology Dialysis Transplantation
- Year
- 2010
- DOI
- 10.1093/ndt/gfq727
- Study Type
- Rat
- Outcome
- Positive
- Peer Reviewed
- Yes
- Country
- Japan
- Health Condition
- Chronic Kidney Disease
- Body System
- Cardiovascular
TL;DR
Drinking hydrogen-enriched water reduced heart and kidney damage in rats with chronic kidney disease.
Key Finding
Rats with chronic kidney disease that drank hydrogen-enriched water showed significantly reduced kidney and heart damage after an ischemic injury, with lower levels of inflammatory markers and oxidative stress compared to rats drinking regular water.
Summary
Researchers gave rats with kidney disease either regular filtered water or water enriched with hydrogen gas (produced through electrolysis) for 6 weeks. They then induced a temporary loss of blood flow to one kidney to simulate injury. Rats that drank hydrogen-enriched water showed less damage to their kidneys and hearts, with fewer signs of inflammation and oxidative stress (cellular damage from harmful oxygen molecules) compared to rats drinking regular water.
Practical Takeaway
This rat study suggests hydrogen water may help protect against kidney and heart damage in chronic kidney disease, but it is not yet evidence that this would work in humans. Much larger human clinical trials would be needed before any health recommendations could be made. The study's findings are promising but preliminary.
Abstract (excerpt)
Hydrogen (H(2)) reportedly produces an antioxidative effect by quenching cytotoxic oxygen radicals. We studied the biological effects of water with dissolved H(2) on ischemia-induced cardio-renal injury in a rat model of chronic kidney disease (CKD). Dahl salt-sensitive rats (7 weeks old) were…