Hydrogen Water Protects Against Pulmonary Hypertension in Rats
- Authors
- Bin He, Yufeng Zhang, Bo Kang, Jian Xiao, Bing Xie, Zhinong Wang
- Journal
- Molecular Biology Reports
- Year
- 2013
- DOI
- 10.1007/s11033-013-2653-9
- Study Type
- Rat
- Outcome
- Positive
- Peer Reviewed
- Yes
- Country
- China
- Health Condition
- Pulmonary Hypertension
- Body System
- Cardiovascular
TL;DR
Hydrogen treatment, whether taken orally or by injection, can help reduce the severity of lung-related high blood pressure in rats.
Key Finding
In rats with chemically-induced pulmonary hypertension, oral hydrogen water reduced lung inflammation and prevented right heart enlargement with effectiveness similar to injected hydrogen.
Summary
Researchers gave rats a chemical that causes lung high blood pressure, then treated some with hydrogen-enriched water to drink and others with injected hydrogen. Both treatments reduced markers of lung damage and inflammation, and prevented the heart from thickening abnormally. Oral hydrogen water worked about as well as injected hydrogen but would be easier for patients to use.
Practical Takeaway
This rat study suggests hydrogen water may help protect against lung high blood pressure through antioxidant effects, but human studies are needed to determine if these results apply to people. The study does not establish that hydrogen water can treat or prevent pulmonary hypertension in humans.
Abstract (excerpt)
This study aimed to explore the protective effect of hydrogen as an antioxidant on monocrotaline (MCT)-induced pulmonary hypertension (PH). Forty-eight SD rats were equally randomized into four groups: SHAM group, MCT group, MCT+Oral-H2 group and MCT+Inj-H2 group. The results showed that the mean…