Hydrogen Water Protects Eyes from Space-Like Conditions in Rats
The effect of Hydrogen-rich water on retinal degeneration in the outer nuclear layer of simulated weightlessness rats
Research hubs: Eyes & Vision System · Brain & Nervous System
- Evidence type
- Animal study (rat)
- Authors
- Yuxue Mu, Weihang Li, Dongyu Wei, Xinyi Zhang, Lilingxuan Yao, Xiaofeng Xu, Xiaocheng Wang, Zuoming Zhang, Tao Chen
- Journal
- Life Sciences in Space Research
- Year
- 2025
- DOI
- 10.1016/j.lssr.2025.03.004
- Study Type
- Rat
- Outcome
- Positive
- Peer Reviewed
- Yes
- Country
- China
- Health Condition
- Spaceflight-Associated Neuro-Ocular Syndrome
- Body System
- Visual
This research was done in animals. Results in animals often don't carry over to people.
TL;DR
Drinking hydrogen-rich water may protect astronauts' eyes from damage caused by the weightlessness experienced in space.
Key Finding
Hydrogen-rich water treatment reversed retinal degeneration and improved visual function in rats exposed to simulated weightlessness, working through cellular pathways that reduce oxidative stress and improve mitochondrial function.
Summary
Researchers studied whether hydrogen-rich water could protect rat eyes from damage caused by simulated weightlessness (using a tail-suspension model for 8 weeks). They found that simulated weightlessness thinned a critical layer of the retina (the light-sensing tissue at the back of the eye), reduced vision, and caused inflammation and cellular damage. Rats given hydrogen-rich water showed improvement in retinal structure, vision, and reduced inflammation compared to untreated rats.
Practical Takeaway
This is an early-stage animal study suggesting hydrogen-rich water may help protect eyes from microgravity-related damage—a concern for astronauts. However, this was conducted only in rats using a simulated weightlessness model, not actual spaceflight, and no human studies have been performed. Much more research would be needed before any conclusions about human benefit could be drawn.
Abstract (excerpt)
Long-term spaceflight can lead to changes in eye structure and decreased visual function. At present, there are almost no effective methods to prevent and treat eye damage caused by microgravity environments. Oxidative stress has been identified as one of the contributing mechanisms…