Hydrogen Water Protects Brain from Stroke Damage in Rats
Neuroprotective Effect of Hydrogen-Rich Saline in Global Cerebral Ischemia/Reperfusion Rats: Up-Regulated Tregs and Down-Regulated miR-21, miR-210 and NF-κB Expression
Research hubs: Brain & Nervous System · Cardiovascular System
This research was done in animals. Results in animals often don't carry over to people.
- Evidence type
- Animal study (rat)
- Authors
- Qian Li, Pan Yu, Qiuting Zeng, Bing Luo, Shenquan Cai, Kangli Hui, Gao Yu, Changsong Zhu, Xingdong Chen, Manlin Duan, Xue-Jun Sun
- Journal
- Neurochemical Research
- Year
- 2016
- PMID
- 27386874
- Study Type
- Rat
- Delivery
- Saline (Dissolved)
- Outcome
- Positive
- Peer Reviewed
- Yes
- Cited by
- 59 (OpenAlex, as of November 2026)
- Country
- China
TL;DR
Breathing in molecular hydrogen (H2) seems to help reduce brain damage and improve immune responses after a stroke by affecting certain immune cells and genetic factors.
Key Finding
Hydrogen-rich saline treatment reduced brain damage in rats after stroke-like injury by increasing protective immune cells and decreasing inflammatory molecules associated with tissue damage.
Summary
This study tested whether hydrogen-rich saline could protect rat brains from damage caused by temporarily cutting off blood flow and then restoring it (a condition similar to stroke). Researchers found that rats treated with hydrogen-rich saline had less brain damage than untreated rats, and the treatment appeared to work by increasing protective immune cells (called Tregs) and reducing inflammatory molecules in the brain.
Practical Takeaway
This early-stage animal study suggests hydrogen-rich saline may have neuroprotective effects in stroke-like conditions, but these results are from rats only and cannot yet be applied to humans. Much more research, including human trials, would be needed before any health claims could be made about hydrogen water for stroke prevention or recovery.
Abstract (excerpt)
Recently, it has been suggested that molecular hydrogen (H2) can selectively reduce the levels of hydroxyl radicals (.OH), and ameliorate oxidative and inflammatory injuries to organs in global cerebral ischemia reperfusion models. Global cerebral ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) can induce a sudden…