Hydrogen Protects Kidneys from Cancer Drug Damage in Mice
- Authors
- Naomi Nakashima-Kamimura, Takashi Mori, Ikuroh Ohsawa, Sadamitsu Asoh, Shigeo Ohta
- Journal
- Cancer Chemotherapy and Pharmacology
- Year
- 2009
- DOI
- 10.1007/s00280-008-0924-2
- Study Type
- Mouse
- Outcome
- Positive
- Peer Reviewed
- Yes
- Country
- Japan
- Health Condition
- Cisplatin Nephrotoxicity
- Body System
- Renal
TL;DR
Breathing hydrogen gas or drinking hydrogen-rich water can reduce the harmful kidney side effects of the cancer drug cisplatin without affecting its ability to fight cancer.
Key Finding
In mice, molecular hydrogen administered as either inhaled gas or hydrogen water reduced kidney damage from cisplatin chemotherapy while preserving the drug's anti-tumor effectiveness.
Summary
Researchers tested whether molecular hydrogen (H₂)—a gas that acts as an antioxidant—could reduce kidney damage caused by cisplatin, a common cancer drug. In mice treated with cisplatin, those that either inhaled hydrogen gas or drank hydrogen-enriched water showed less kidney damage, better survival rates, and less weight loss compared to mice that didn't receive hydrogen. Importantly, hydrogen did not interfere with cisplatin's ability to fight cancer tumors.
Practical Takeaway
This animal study suggests hydrogen may help protect kidneys during cisplatin chemotherapy, but these results are from mice only and have not been tested in humans. Before considering hydrogen water as a complement to cancer treatment, patients would need human clinical trials to confirm safety and effectiveness, and should discuss any such approach with their oncologist.
Abstract
Cisplatin is a widely used anti-cancer drug in the treatment of a wide range of tumors; however, its application is limited by nephrotoxicity, which is affected by oxidative stress. We have reported that molecular hydrogen (H(2)) acts as an efficient antioxidant (Ohsawa et al. in Nat Med 13:688-694, 2007). Here we show that hydrogen efficiently mitigates the side effects of cisplatin by reducing oxidative stress. Mice were administered cisplatin followed by inhaling hydrogen gas (1% H(2) in air). Furthermore, instead of inhaling hydrogen gas, we examined whether drinking water containing hydrogen (hydrogen water; 0.8 mM H(2) in water) is applicable by examining oxidative stress, mortality, and body-weight loss. Nephrotoxicity was assessed by morphological changes, serum creatinine and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) levels. Inhalation of hydrogen gas improved mortality and body-weight loss caused by cisplatin, and alleviated nephrotoxicity. Hydrogen was detected in blood when hydrogen water was placed in the stomach of a rat. Consuming hydrogen water ad libitum also reduced oxidative stress, mortality, and body-weight loss induced by cisplatin in mice. Hydrogen water improved metamorphosis accompanying decreased apoptosis in the kidney, and nephrotoxicity as assessed by serum creatinine and BUN levels. Despite its protective effects against cisplatin-induced toxicity, hydrogen did not impair anti-tumor activity of cisplatin against cancer cell lines in vitro and tumor-bearing mice in vivo. Hydrogen has potential for improving the quality of life of patients during chemotherapy by efficiently mitigating the side effects of cisplatin.