Hydrogen Water Protects Heart from Radiation Damage in Animal Study

Summary by Hydrogen Studies Editorial Team · Updated

Authors
Journal
Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry
Year
DOI
10.1007/s11010-019-03512-z
Study Type
Rat
Outcome
Positive
Peer Reviewed
Yes
Country
Slovakia
Health Condition
Radiation-Induced Heart Disease
Body System
Cardiovascular

TL;DR

Drinking water enriched with molecular hydrogen can help protect rat hearts from damage caused by radiation, possibly by influencing the levels of certain heart-related microRNAs.

Key Finding

Hydrogen-rich water reduced radiation-induced heart damage in rats by regulating three specific microRNAs (miRNA-1, -15b, and -21) and lowering markers of oxidative stress and inflammation.

Summary

This rat study investigated how molecular hydrogen (a gas that can be dissolved in water) might protect heart tissue from radiation damage. Researchers found that when rats exposed to radiation drank hydrogen-rich water, it reduced harmful molecules and inflammation in the heart, and it also changed the activity of three specific microRNAs (tiny molecules that control gene expression) in ways that prevented heart damage like thickening and scarring.

Practical Takeaway

This is an early-stage animal study that identifies a potential mechanism for how hydrogen water might protect heart tissue from radiation. However, these findings are from rats only and have not been tested in humans, so it's too early to draw conclusions about whether hydrogen water would help people undergoing radiation therapy. More research, including human studies, would be needed to determine if this effect translates to clinical benefit.

Abstract (excerpt)

microRNAs (miRNAs) constitute a large class of post-transcriptional regulators of gene expression. It has been estimated that miRNAs regulate up to 30% of the protein-coding genes in humans. They are implicated in many physiological and pathological processes, including those involved…

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