Hydrogen Water Transforms Liver Fat Metabolism in Groundbreaking Study
- Authors
- Yao Mawulikplimi Adzavon, Fei Xie, Yang Yi, Xue Jiang, Xiaokang Zhang, Jin He, Pengxiang Zhao, Mengyu Liu, Shiwen Ma, Xuemei Ma
- Journal
- Scientific Reports
- Year
- 2022
- DOI
- 10.1038/s41598-022-07710-6
- Study Type
- Rat
- Outcome
- Positive
- Peer Reviewed
- Yes
- Country
- China
- Health Condition
- Metabolic Syndrome
- Body System
- Hepatic
TL;DR
Breathing in hydrogen gas or drinking hydrogen-rich water for six months can improve liver function and reduce body fat in rats.
Key Finding
Six months of daily hydrogen exposure reprogrammed rat liver metabolism to reduce fat production and increase fat breakdown, with changes centered on NADP-dependent pathways.
Summary
Researchers gave rats molecular hydrogen (H2) daily for 6 months through drinking water or breathing hydrogen gas, then examined how it affected liver function and metabolism. The rats showed reduced fat production in the liver, increased fat breakdown, loss of belly fat, and lower blood lipid levels. The study identified that hydrogen works by changing how the liver uses a molecule called NADP, which is involved in many metabolic processes.
Practical Takeaway
This rat study provides the first molecular evidence for how hydrogen might affect metabolism and fat storage, but it's important to note this is animal research only. Whether these effects translate to humans remains unknown, and clinical trials would be needed before drawing conclusions about hydrogen water's effects on human metabolism or weight management.
Abstract (excerpt)
Molecular hydrogen (H2) has emerged as a new therapeutic option in several diseases and is widely adopted by healthy people. However, molecular data to support therapeutic functions attributed to the biological activities of H2 remain elusive. Here, using transcriptomic and metabolomic approaches…