Hydrogen Water Protects Baby Brains From Inflammation During Pregnancy
- Authors
- Kenji Imai, Tomomi Kotani, Hiroyuki Tsuda, Yukio Mano, Tomoko Nakano, Takafumi Ushida, Hua Li, Rika Miki, Seiji Sumigama, Akira Iwase, Akihiro Hirakawa, Kinji Ohno, Shinya Toyokuni, Hideyuki Takeuchi, Tetsuya Mizuno, Akio Suzumura, Fumitaka Kikkawa
- Journal
- Free Radical Biology and Medicine
- Year
- 2016
- DOI
- 10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2015.12.015
- Study Type
- Mouse
- Outcome
- Positive
- Peer Reviewed
- Yes
- Country
- Japan
- Health Condition
- Perinatal Brain Injury
- Body System
- Nervous System
TL;DR
Giving pregnant mice hydrogen water reduced brain inflammation and damage in their unborn babies caused by an infection-related model.
Key Finding
In a mouse model of prenatal inflammation, molecular hydrogen reduced pro-inflammatory cytokine production, oxidative damage, and microglial activation in fetal brains.
Summary
Researchers exposed pregnant mice to an inflammatory substance to mimic perinatal brain injury (brain damage around birth). They then gave some pregnant mice hydrogen water to drink and examined whether it protected the developing fetal brains. Hydrogen water reduced inflammation markers, oxidative damage (harmful chemical reactions), and the activation of immune cells called microglia in fetal brains. The study suggests hydrogen may help prevent brain injury caused by prenatal inflammation, though this has only been tested in mice so far.
Practical Takeaway
This early-stage animal study suggests hydrogen water may have protective effects against inflammation-related brain injury during pregnancy, but it is far from clinical application. The research was conducted only in mice, and no human trials have been conducted. Much more research, including human studies, would be needed before hydrogen water could be considered a preventative therapy for this condition.
Abstract (excerpt)
Exposure to inflammation in utero is related to perinatal brain injury, which is itself associated with high rates of long-term morbidity and mortality in children. Novel therapeutic interventions during the perinatal period are required to prevent inflammation, but its pathogenesis is incompletely…