Hydrogen Water Protects Kidneys from Oxalate Damage in Study
- Authors
- Yachen Si, Lulu Liu, Jin Cheng, Tingting Zhao, Qi Zhou, Jianpeng Yu, Wei Chen, Jiarong Ding, Xuejun Sun, Hongtao Lu, Zhiyong Guo
- Journal
- Frontiers in Medicine
- Year
- 2021
- DOI
- 10.3389/fmed.2021.713536
- Study Type
- Mouse
- Outcome
- Positive
- Peer Reviewed
- Yes
- Country
- China
- Health Condition
- Kidney Stones
- Body System
- Urinary System
TL;DR
Drinking hydrogen-rich water (HRW) may help protect against kidney damage caused by too much oxalate, a substance found in certain foods.
Key Finding
In mice with oxalate-induced kidney injury, hydrogen-rich water reduced crystal deposition, kidney tissue damage, inflammation, and oxidative stress by suppressing three cellular signaling pathways (PI3K/AKT, NF-κB, and TGF-β).
Summary
Researchers gave mice with kidney damage from a high-oxalate diet (which causes calcium oxalate crystal buildup in kidneys) hydrogen-rich water or regular water. Mice receiving hydrogen-rich water showed less crystal buildup, less kidney tissue damage, and reduced markers of inflammation and oxidative stress (cellular damage from unstable molecules) in their blood and kidney tissue compared to controls.
Practical Takeaway
This is an early-stage animal study that suggests hydrogen-rich water may help protect against kidney damage from high oxalate levels, but results from mouse studies do not automatically translate to humans. Human clinical trials would be needed to determine whether hydrogen-rich water offers similar benefits for people at risk of kidney stones or oxalate-related kidney disease.
Abstract
Objective: To explore the theraputic effects and potential mechanisms of hydrogen-rich water (HRW) against oxalate-induced kidney injury.Methods: The mouse model of Calcium oxalate (CaOx) crystallization was established by feeding a soluble oxalate diet. Crystal deposition, tubular injury, fibrosis and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production in kidneys were examined by histology. Serum indexes of renal injury, inflammation and oxidative stress were detected by commercial kits. RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) was performed to screen potential pathways and the expressions of key molecules in these pathways were determined by western blotting and immunohistochemistry.Results: Crystal deposition, tubular injury, fibrosis and increased ROS production in kidneys of mice induced by oxalate diet were improved with HRW administration. The indexes of renal injury, inflammation and oxidative stress in serum of mice were upregulated by oxalate diet, which were reduced by HRW. A total of 3,566 differential genes were screened by RNA-seq and these genes were analyzed by pathway enrichment and PI3K/AKT, NF-κB, and TGF-β pathways were selected for further verification. The expressions of molecules related to PI3K-AKT pathway (PI3K, AKT, and p-AKT), NF-κB pathway (NF-κB p65, p- NF-κB p65, NLRP3, and IL-1β) and TGF-β pathway (TGF-β, TGF-βRI, TGF-βRII, p-Smad2, and p-Smad3) in renal tissues were increased by oxalate diet, which were reduced by HRW administration.Conclusion: HRW may alleviate oxalate-induced kidney injury with its anti-oxidative, anti-inflammatory and anti-fibrotic effects via inhibiting PI3K/AKT, NF-κB, and TGF-β pathways.