Hydrogen Therapy Prevents Bone Death from Steroid Use in Animal Study

Authors
Journal
BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders
Year
DOI
10.1186/s12891-017-1431-6
Study Type
Rabbit
Outcome
Positive
Peer Reviewed
Yes
Country
China
Health Condition
Steroid-induced osteonecrosis
Body System
Musculoskeletal

TL;DR

Breathing in hydrogen gas can reduce bone damage caused by steroid use in rabbits.

Key Finding

Molecular hydrogen reduced the incidence of steroid-induced bone death in rabbits from 68% to 29%, accompanied by decreased oxidative stress and cell death markers.

Summary

This study tested whether molecular hydrogen, a gas with antioxidant properties, could prevent bone death caused by steroid medications in rabbits. Researchers gave some rabbits steroids to cause bone damage, then treated half of them with hydrogen injections. Rabbits receiving hydrogen had much lower rates of bone death (29% versus 68%) and showed less cellular damage and cell death in their bone tissue.

Practical Takeaway

While these results are promising, this is an animal study in rabbits, so it's unclear whether hydrogen would have the same protective effects in humans taking steroids. Much more research, including human trials, would be needed before hydrogen could be considered a treatment for steroid-related bone complications.

Abstract

Background: The objective of this study was to investigate the protective effects of molecular hydrogen, a novel and selective antioxidant, on steroid-induced osteonecrosis (ON) in a rabbit model. Methods: Sixty rabbits were randomly divided into two groups (model group and hydrogen group). Osteonecrosis was induced according to an established protocol of steroid-induced ON. Rabbits in the hydrogen group were treated with intraperitoneal injections of molecular hydrogen at 10 ml/kg body weight for seven consecutive days. Plasma levels of total cholesterol, triglycerides, soluble thrombomodulin(sTM), glutathione(GSH) and malondialdehyde(MDA) were measured before and after steroid administration. The presence or absence of ON was examined histopathologically. Oxidative injury and vascular injury were assessed in vivo by immunohistochemical staining of 8-hydoxy-2-deoxyguanosine(8-OHdG) and MDA, and ink artery infusion angiography. The terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) assays were performed to measure apoptosis. Results: The incidence of steroid-induced ON was significantly lower in hydrogen group (28.6%) than that in model group (68.0%). No statistically differences were observed on the levels of total cholesterol and triglycerides. Oxidative injury, vascular injury and apoptosis were attenuated in the hydrogen group compared with those in the model group in vivo. Conclusions: These results suggested that molecular hydrogen prevents steroid-induced osteonecrosis in rabbits by suppressing oxidative injury, vascular injury and apoptosis.