Hydrogen Water Prevents Gum Disease in Obese Rats
- Authors
- Toshiki Yoneda, Takaaki Tomofuji, Muneyoshi Kunitomo, Daisuke Ekuni, Koichiro Irie, Tetsuji Azuma, Tatsuya Machida, Hisataka Miyai, Kouhei Fujimori, Manabu Morita
- Journal
- Nutrients
- Year
- 2017
- DOI
- 10.3390/nu9010064
- Study Type
- Rat
- Outcome
- Positive
- Peer Reviewed
- Yes
- Country
- Japan
- Health Condition
- Periodontal Disease
- Body System
- Oral Health
TL;DR
Drinking hydrogen-rich water may help reduce gum damage and tooth-supporting bone loss in obese rats.
Key Finding
In obese rats fed a high-fat diet, drinking hydrogen-rich water reduced gum cell damage, slowed bone loss in the jaw, and limited weight gain compared to rats drinking regular water.
Summary
This study tested whether hydrogen-rich water could protect the gums and jaw bone in rats fed a high-fat diet. Researchers compared three groups of rats: one eating a normal diet, and two eating a high-fat diet—one drinking regular water and one drinking hydrogen-rich water. The rats drinking hydrogen-rich water gained less weight, had lower markers of cell damage in their gums, and experienced less bone loss in their jaw compared to the high-fat diet group drinking regular water.
Practical Takeaway
This is an early-stage animal study suggesting hydrogen-rich water may help protect gums and jaw bone in obesity-related conditions. However, these results are from rats only, and the study does not tell us whether the same effects would occur in humans. Much more research, including human trials, would be needed before any health recommendations could be made.
Abstract
Obesity induces gingival oxidative stress, which is involved in the progression of alveolar bone resorption. The antioxidant effect of hydrogen-rich water may attenuate gingival oxidative stress and prevent alveolar bone resorption in cases of obesity. We examined whether hydrogen-rich water could suppress gingival oxidative stress and alveolar bone resorption in obese rats fed a high-fat diet. Male Fischer 344 rats (n = 18) were divided into three groups of six rats each: a control group (fed a regular diet and drinking distilled water) and two experimental groups (fed a high-fat diet and drinking distilled water or hydrogen-rich water). The level of 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine was determined to evaluate oxidative stress. The bone mineral density of the alveolar bone was analyzed by micro-computerized tomography. Obese rats, induced by a high-fat diet, showed a higher gingival level of 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine and a lower level of alveolar bone density compared to the control group. Drinking hydrogen-rich water suppressed body weight gain, lowered gingival level of 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine, and reduced alveolar bone resorption in rats on a high-fat diet. The results indicate that hydrogen-rich water could suppress gingival oxidative stress and alveolar bone resorption by limiting obesity.