Hydrogen Water Protects Brain After Hemorrhagic Stroke in Animal Study
Nuclear factor-κB/Bcl-XL pathway is involved in the protective effect of hydrogen-rich saline on the brain following experimental subarachnoid hemorrhage in rabbits
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 (rabbit)
- Authors
- Zong Zhuang, Xue-Jun Sun, Xing Zhang, Huan-Dong Liu, Wan-Chun You, Chi-Yuan Ma, Lin Zhu, Meng-Liang Zhou, Ji-Xin Shi
- Journal
- Journal of Neuroscience Research
- Year
- 2013
- PMID
- 24105634
- Study Type
- Rabbit
- Delivery
- Saline (Dissolved)
- Dose
- hydrogen-rich saline injected intraperitoneally
- Outcome
- Positive
- Peer Reviewed
- Yes
- Cited by
- 30 (OpenAlex, as of November 2026)
- Country
- China
TL;DR
Hydrogen treatment reduces brain damage and neuron death after a brain hemorrhage by activating a protective pathway in the brain.
Key Finding
Hydrogen-rich saline treatment reduced brain cell death and neuronal apoptosis (programmed cell death) in rabbits with simulated subarachnoid hemorrhage by activating a specific protective cellular pathway.
Summary
This study tested whether hydrogen-rich saline could protect rabbit brains from injury caused by simulated subarachnoid hemorrhage (bleeding in the space around the brain). Researchers found that hydrogen treatment reduced brain cell death by activating a protective pathway called NF-κB/Bcl-xL, which helps neurons survive.
Practical Takeaway
While this animal study suggests hydrogen may have neuroprotective properties in brain injury, it is a rabbit study only and does not directly demonstrate effects in humans. Much more research, including human clinical trials, would be needed before any therapeutic claims could be made for stroke or brain hemorrhage patients.
Abstract (excerpt)
Early brain injury (EBI), a significant contributor to poor outcome after subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH), is intimately associated with neuronal apoptosis. Recently, the protective role of hydrogen (H2) in the brain has been widely studied, but the underlying mechanism remains elusive. Numerous…