Hydrogen Water Prevents Bladder Problems in Rats with Outlet Blockage
- Authors
- Nozomu Miyazaki, Osamu Yamaguchi, Masanori Nomiya, Ken Aikawa, Junko Kimura
- Journal
- Journal of Urology
- Year
- 2016
- DOI
- 10.1016/j.juro.2015.10.117
- Study Type
- Rat
- Outcome
- Positive
- Peer Reviewed
- Yes
- Country
- Japan
- Health Condition
- Bladder Outlet Obstruction
- Body System
- Urinary System
TL;DR
Drinking hydrogen-infused water improved bladder function and reduced signs of damage in rats with bladder blockages by lowering harmful oxidative stress.
Key Finding
Rats with bladder outlet obstruction that drank hydrogen water showed significantly improved bladder function, including normalized urination intervals and volumes, compared to rats given regular water.
Summary
Researchers studied whether hydrogen water could help prevent bladder problems in rats with a surgically created bladder obstruction. Rats that drank hydrogen water had better bladder function, including more normal urination patterns and less urine left in the bladder after urination, compared to rats that drank regular water. The hydrogen water appeared to work by reducing oxidative stress (cellular damage from unstable molecules) in the bladder tissue.
Practical Takeaway
This rat study suggests hydrogen water may help protect bladder function under conditions of obstruction by reducing oxidative stress. However, this is early-stage animal research, and it's unclear whether these results would apply to humans or to bladder conditions outside of surgical obstruction. More research, including human studies, would be needed before drawing conclusions about practical benefits.
Abstract
Purpose: Bladder ischemia and oxidative stress contribute to the pathogenesis of bladder dysfunction caused by bladder outlet obstruction (BOO). Molecular hydrogen (H2) reportedly acts as an effective antioxidant. We investigated whether oral ingestion of hydrogen water (H2-water) has a beneficial effect on bladder function in a rat model of BOO. Materials and methods: H2-water was made by dissolving H2 gas in ordinary drinking water (OW) using a hydrogen water-producing apparatus. The BOO model was surgically induced in male rats. Rats with BOO were fed with H2-water or OW. On week 4 after surgery, cystometry was performed. Oxidative stress markers and bladder nerve growth factor (NGF) level were determined. Bladder tissues were processed for pharmacological studies and for histological analysis. Results: The micturition interval and micturition volume significantly decreased in the BOO rats given OW. These decreases were significantly suppressed by oral ingestion of H2-water. Increased post-void residual volume in the BOO rats was significantly reduced by H2-water. BOO led to a significant increase in bladder weight, oxidative stress markers and NGF level. H2-water significantly suppressed these increases without affecting bladder weight. There was no significant difference in histological findings between the BOO rats given H2-water and OW. Decreased responses of detrusor muscle strips from the obstructed bladder to KCl, carbachol and electrical field stimulation were reversed by ingestion of H2-water. Conclusions: These results suggest that H2-water could ameliorate the bladder dysfunction secondary to BOO by attenuating oxidative stress.