Hydrogen Water and Gut Health in Parkinson's Model Rats
Positive effect of an electrolyzed reduced water on gut permeability, fecal microbiota and liver in an animal model of Parkinson's disease
Research hubs: Parkinson's Disease · Brain & Nervous System
This research was done in animals. Results in animals often don't carry over to people.
- Evidence type
- Animal study (rat)
- Authors
- Laura Bordoni, Rosita Gabbianelli, Donatella Fedeli, Dennis Fiorini, Ina Bergheim, Cheng Jun Jin, Lisa Marinelli, Antonio Di Stefano, Cinzia Nasuti
- Journal
- PLoS One
- Year
- 2019
- PMID
- 31600256
- Study Type
- Rat
- Delivery
- Water (Electrolysis)
- Dose
- Electrolyzed reduced water co-treatment from postnatal day 6 to 21
- Duration
- 15 days
- Outcome
- Positive
- Peer Reviewed
- Yes
- Cited by
- 50 (OpenAlex, as of November 2026)
- Country
- Italy
TL;DR
Drinking a type of antioxidant water (ERW) may protect rats from gut and liver damage and changes in gut bacteria caused by a pesticide linked to Parkinson's disease.
Key Finding
In rats exposed to a pesticide linked to Parkinson's disease, electrolyzed reduced water reduced intestinal permeability, liver inflammation, and restored healthy gut bacteria composition compared to pesticide exposure alone.
Summary
Researchers exposed young rats to a pesticide known to cause Parkinson's-like changes and found that drinking electrolyzed reduced water (water treated with electricity to add hydrogen) helped protect against damage to the intestinal lining, liver inflammation, and unhealthy changes in gut bacteria. The protective effect appeared to work by restoring beneficial bacteria that produce butyrate, a compound that supports gut health.
Practical Takeaway
This is an early-stage animal study suggesting electrolyzed reduced water may help protect against pesticide-induced gut and liver damage through changes in gut bacteria. However, these findings are from rats only and have not been tested in humans, so it's premature to draw conclusions about whether this water would have similar effects in people with or at risk for Parkinson's disease.
Abstract (excerpt)
There is growing awareness within the scientific community of the strong connection between the inflammation in the intestine and the pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease (PD). In previous studies we developed a PD animal model exposing pup rats to permethrin (PERM) pesticide. Here, we intended…