Hydrogen-Rich Saline Prevents Decompression Sickness in Diving Study
- Authors
- Xiao-Xiao Ni, Zhi-Yu Cai, Dan-Feng Fan, Yun Liu, Rong-Jia Zhang, Shu-Lin Liu, Zhi-Min Kang, Kan Liu, Run-Ping Li, Xue-Jun Sun, Wei-Gang Xu
- Journal
- Aviation, Space, and Environmental Medicine
- Year
- 2011
- DOI
- 10.3357/asem.2964.2011
- Study Type
- Rat
- Outcome
- Positive
- Peer Reviewed
- Yes
- Country
- China
- Health Condition
- Decompression Sickness
- Body System
- Respiratory
TL;DR
A special saline solution rich in hydrogen gas can reduce the symptoms of decompression sickness (the bends) in rats.
Key Finding
Hydrogen-rich saline reduced decompression sickness incidence in rats from 67.57% to 35.14% and significantly decreased oxidative stress markers in lung and spinal cord tissue.
Summary
Researchers gave rats hydrogen-rich saline (salt water containing dissolved hydrogen molecules) before and after simulating decompression sickness—a condition that can occur when divers surface too quickly. The treatment reduced the rate of decompression sickness from about 68% to 35% and lowered markers of cellular damage (oxidative stress) in the lungs and spinal cord. The researchers believe hydrogen worked by reducing harmful chemical reactions in the body.
Practical Takeaway
This is early-stage animal research showing hydrogen may help protect against decompression sickness by reducing oxidative damage. However, this was only tested in rats, not humans, so it's unclear whether these results would apply to people or what dose would be needed. Much more research would be required before hydrogen-rich saline could be considered a treatment for diving-related injuries.
Abstract
Introduction: Hydrogen (H2) has been reported to be effective in the treatment of oxidative injury, which plays an important role in the process of decompression sickness (DCS). This study was designed to test whether H2-rich saline (saline saturated with molecular hydrogen) protected rats against DCS. Methods: Models of DCS were induced in male Sprague-Dawley rats weighing 300-310 g. H2-rich (0.86 mmol x L(-1)) saline was administered intraperitoneally (10 ml x kg(-1)) at 24 h, 12 h, immediately before compression, and right after fast decompression. Results: H2-rich saline significantly decreased the incidence of DCS from 67.57 to 35.14% and partially counteracted the increases in the total concentration of protein in the bronchoalveolar lavage from 0.33 +/- 0.05 to 0.14 +/- 0.01 mg x ml(-1) (mean +/- SD; P < 0.05), myeloperoxidase activity from 0.86 +/- 0.16 to 0.44 +/- 0.13 U/g, levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) from 0.80 +/- 0.10 to 0.48 +/- 0.05 nmol x mg(-1), 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine from 253.7 +/- 9.3 to 191.2 +/- 4.8 pg x mg(-1) in the lungs, and MDA level from 1.77 +/- 0.20 to 0.87 +/- 0.23 nmol x mg(-1) in the spinal cord in rat DCS models. The histopathology results also showed that H2-rich saline ameliorated DCS injuries. Discussion: It is concluded that H2-rich saline may have a protective effect against DCS, possibly due to its antioxidant action.