Hydrogen Therapy Protects Gum Cells from Bacterial Damage
- Authors
- Min Zhou, Zuo-Lin Wang
- Journal
- West China Journal of Stomatology
- Year
- 2018
- DOI
- 10.7518/hxkq.2018.02.002
- Study Type
- Cell Culture
- Outcome
- Positive
- Peer Reviewed
- Yes
- Country
- China
- Health Condition
- Periodontal Disease
- Body System
- Oral Health
TL;DR
Hydrogen-rich environments help human gum cells resist damage and live longer when exposed to harmful substances.
Key Finding
Hydrogen-rich medium significantly improved cell survival and reduced cell death in periodontal ligament cells exposed to bacterial toxin, while also enhancing antioxidant enzyme activity and reducing oxidative stress markers.
Summary
Researchers exposed human periodontal ligament cells (cells that support teeth) to a bacterial toxin called lipopolysaccharide (LPS) to simulate gum disease damage. They tested whether hydrogen-rich medium could protect these cells from injury. The hydrogen-rich medium improved cell survival, reduced cell death, and boosted the cells' natural antioxidant defenses (proteins that protect against harmful molecules).
Practical Takeaway
This is a laboratory study using isolated cells, not human testing, so it cannot yet demonstrate that hydrogen water would have these effects in the mouth or body. While the results are promising and suggest hydrogen may protect cells from bacterial toxin damage, much more research—including human studies—would be needed before drawing conclusions about hydrogen water's usefulness for gum health.
Abstract
Objective: In this study, lipopolysaccharides (LPS) was used to damage human periodontal ligament cells (hPDLCs) and consequently investigate the protective effects of hydrogen on reducing oxidative stress and cell apoptosis rate. Methods: hPDLCs were isolated, and then cultured with normal medium+1 μg·mL⁻¹ LPS or with hydrogen-rich medium+ 1 μg·mL⁻¹ LPS. Cell proliferation activity was assessed using a cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8), and lactic dehydrogenase (LDH) release was also detected. The activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT), and the level of malonaldehyde (MDA) in supernatants were also measured. Cell apoptosis was detected by flow cytometry at 24 h after LPS stimulation. Results: CCK-8 results showed that hydrogen could significantly improve hPDLCs growth and decrease cell apoptosis under LPS stimulation (P<0.05). However, no significant difference in LDH release was found between the two groups. The CAT levels significantly increased at 6 and 12 h in the hydrogen-rich medium as compared with the normal medium group (P<0.05, P<0.01, respectively). However, SOD levels were not significant different at each time point. At 6 h after LPS stimulation, the MDA levels in the cell supernatant of hydrogen-rich medium group were significantly reduced as compared with those in the normal medium group (P<0.05). Conclusions: The hydrogen-rich medium can effectively improve hPDLCs proliferation activity and antioxidant capacity and reduce apoptosis and oxidative stress under LPS stimulation.