Hydrogen Water Protects Intestines from Surgery-Related Injury in Mice
MicroRNA Files in the Prevention of Intestinal Ischemia/Reperfusion Injury by Hydrogen Rich Saline
- Evidence type
- Animal study (mouse)
- Authors
- Weifeng Yao, Xiaoyu Lin, Xue Han, Lanfen Zeng, Anshun Guo, Yu Guan, Ziqing Hei, Jianpei Liu, Pinjie Huang
- Journal
- Bioscience Reports
- Year
- 2019
- DOI
- 10.1042/BSR20191043
- Study Type
- Mouse
- Outcome
- Positive
- Peer Reviewed
- Yes
- Country
- China
- Health Condition
- Intestinal Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury
- Body System
- Gastrointestinal
This research was done in animals. Results in animals often don't carry over to people.
TL;DR
Hydrogen-rich saline (HRS) may protect the intestines from damage due to temporary loss and restoration of blood supply by regulating certain microRNA molecules.
Key Finding
Hydrogen-rich saline reduced intestinal damage from ischemia/reperfusion injury in mice by lowering levels of miR-199a-3p, which activated cell survival pathways and prevented intestinal cell death.
Summary
Researchers studied how hydrogen-rich saline (a salt solution containing dissolved hydrogen) protects the intestines from damage caused by temporarily cutting off blood flow and then restoring it. Using mice, they found that hydrogen-rich saline reduced intestinal injury and cell death, and they identified a specific molecular switch called miR-199a-3p that appears to be responsible for this protective effect by activating survival pathways in intestinal cells.
Practical Takeaway
This is an early-stage animal study that identifies a potential mechanism for how hydrogen water might protect intestinal tissue from injury. However, these findings are from mice only, and it remains unclear whether the same protective effect would occur in humans or with the amounts of hydrogen in commercially available hydrogen water products. More research in humans would be needed before drawing conclusions about practical health benefits.
Abstract (excerpt)
Abstract Background: Hydrogen-rich saline (HRS) has been proven effective against ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury. However, knowledge on the underlying signaling events remain poor. Having recent highlight of microRNAs (miRNAs) in mediating intestinal I/R injury, we hypothesized that HRS may…