Hydrogen Water and Heart Damage Recovery in Rats After Heart Attack
Protein chip and bioinformatic analyses of differentially expressed proteins involved in the effect of hydrogen-rich water on myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury
Research hubs: Cardiovascular System
This research was done in animals. Results in animals often don't carry over to people.
- Evidence type
- Animal study (rat)
- Authors
- Liangtong Li, Tongtong Liu, Xiangzi Li, Xuanchen Liu, Li Liu, Shaochun Li, Zhilin Li, Yujuan Zhou, Fulin Liu
- Journal
- International Journal of Medical Sciences
- Year
- 2019
- PMID
- 31588191
- Study Type
- Rat
- Participants
- 20
- Delivery
- Water (Dissolved)
- Dose
- K-R solution + hydrogen-rich water perfusion
- Outcome
- Positive
- Peer Reviewed
- Yes
- Cited by
- 9 (OpenAlex, as of November 2026)
- Country
- China
TL;DR
Drinking hydrogen-rich water may help protect the heart from damage during a heart attack by affecting 25 specific proteins and several biological processes.
Key Finding
Hydrogen-rich water treatment reduced the expression of 25 proteins involved in heart damage from restricted blood flow and reperfusion in rat hearts.
Summary
Researchers gave rats hydrogen-rich water during a procedure that temporarily restricted blood flow to the heart and then restored it—a condition called ischemia-reperfusion injury. They compared protein levels in heart tissue between rats that received hydrogen-rich water and a control group. The hydrogen-rich water group showed decreased expression of 25 proteins involved in heart damage, and these proteins are connected to immune responses and blood vessel formation.
Practical Takeaway
This rat study provides early molecular-level evidence that hydrogen-rich water may protect heart tissue during ischemia-reperfusion injury, but human studies are needed to determine whether these findings apply to people. The study identifies potential biological mechanisms but does not yet establish whether hydrogen water would be effective or safe as a clinical treatment.
Abstract (excerpt)
Background: The differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) involved in the effect of hydrogen-rich water on myocardial ischemia reperfusion injury (MIRI) and their biological processes and signaling pathway were analyzed. Methods: 20 Wistar rats were randomly and equally divided into a control…