Hydrogen Therapy Slows Rheumatoid Arthritis Joint Damage in Mice
- Authors
- Jia Meng, Pan Yu, Hui Jiang, Tao Yuan, Naicheng Liu, Jian Tong, Haiyan Chen, Nirong Bao, Jianning Zhao
- Journal
- American Journal of Translational Research
- Year
- 2016
- Study Type
- Mouse
- Outcome
- Positive
- Peer Reviewed
- Yes
- Country
- China
- Health Condition
- Rheumatoid Arthritis
- Body System
- Musculoskeletal
TL;DR
Hydrogen treatment can reduce inflammation and oxidative stress in cells affected by rheumatoid arthritis.
Key Finding
Hydrogen-enriched water reduced oxidative stress markers and blocked key inflammatory signaling pathways (MAPK and NF-κB) in arthritis-affected cells in a mouse model.
Summary
Researchers tested whether molecular hydrogen could reduce inflammation in mice with a type of arthritis similar to rheumatoid arthritis. They found that hydrogen-enriched water appeared to protect cells from damage caused by oxidative stress (harmful molecules that build up in the body) by activating protective enzymes and blocking inflammatory signaling pathways that normally trigger joint damage.
Practical Takeaway
This is early-stage research in mice only, so it cannot yet be applied to human health. While the results suggest hydrogen water may have anti-inflammatory potential for arthritis, human clinical trials would be needed to determine if these effects translate to people with rheumatoid arthritis.
Abstract (excerpt)
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic inflammatory disease which results in progressive destruction of the joint. In this study, we examined if the hydrogen could inhibit inflammation in a mouse model of collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) via oxidative stress on RA-FLSs. Moreover, to identify…