Hydrogen in Lab Tests on Blood Vessel Inflammation
Protective effects of hydrogen-rich medium on lipopolysaccharide-induced monocytic adhesion and vascular endothelial permeability through regulation of vascular endothelial cadherin
Research hubs: Cardiovascular System
This research was done on cells or tissue in a lab, not in people or animals.
- Evidence type
- Laboratory study (cells or tissue)
- Authors
- Y. Yu, W.N. Wang, H.Z. Han, K.L. Xie, G.L. Wang, Y.H. Yu
- Journal
- Genetics and Molecular Research
- Year
- 2015
- PMID
- 26125821
- Study Type
- Cell Culture
- Delivery
- Medium (Dissolved)
- Dose
- saturated hydrogen-rich medium
- Outcome
- Positive
- Peer Reviewed
- Yes
- Cited by
- 13 (OpenAlex, as of November 2026)
- Country
- China
TL;DR
Hydrogen-rich liquid can lessen inflammation and improve the stability of blood vessel walls in human cells treated with a bacterial toxin.
Key Finding
Hydrogen-rich medium reduced inflammation-induced damage to blood vessel cells by restoring the structure and function of VE-cadherin, a protein that seals gaps between endothelial cells.
Summary
Researchers tested whether hydrogen-rich water could protect cells that line blood vessels from damage caused by lipopolysaccharide, a bacterial toxin that triggers inflammation. They found that hydrogen-rich medium reduced the stickiness between immune cells and vessel-lining cells, lowered inflammatory markers, and helped restore a protein called VE-cadherin that normally seals gaps between these cells. This suggests hydrogen may help maintain the barrier function of blood vessels during inflammatory stress.
Practical Takeaway
This is an early-stage laboratory study using cells in a dish, not human subjects, so it cannot yet demonstrate that hydrogen water would have these protective effects in the body. The findings suggest hydrogen may warrant further investigation for conditions involving vascular inflammation, but much more research—including animal and human studies—would be needed before any health claims could be made.
Abstract (excerpt)
We observed the effect of hydrogen-rich medium on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs), hyaline leukocyte conglutination, and permeability of the endothelium. Endotheliocytes were inoculated on 6-well plates and randomly divided into 4 groups: control…