Hydrogen Water Prevents Muscle Loss from Immobilization in Mice
- Authors
- Seyedeh Elnaz Nazari, Alex Tarnava, Nima Khalili-Tanha, Mahdieh Darroudi, Ghazaleh Khalili-Tanha, Amir Avan, Majid Khazaei, Tyler W. LeBaron
- Journal
- Pharmaceuticals
- Year
- 2023
- DOI
- 10.3390/ph16101436
- Study Type
- Mouse
- Outcome
- Positive
- Peer Reviewed
- Yes
- Country
- Iran
- Health Condition
- Muscle Atrophy
- Body System
- Musculoskeletal
TL;DR
Drinking hydrogen-rich water improved muscle health and strength in mice with an immobilized limb, suggesting it could help prevent muscle weakening.
Key Finding
Hydrogen-rich water significantly improved muscle strength and muscle fiber size in immobilized mice while reducing inflammation and oxidative stress markers, with the strongest effects seen during the acute immobilization phase.
Summary
Researchers tested whether hydrogen-rich water could help prevent muscle loss in mice whose hind limbs were immobilized for a week. Mice that drank hydrogen-rich water showed better muscle strength, larger muscle fibers, and lower levels of inflammatory markers and oxidative stress (cellular damage) compared to mice that didn't receive the treatment, both during immobilization and recovery.
Practical Takeaway
This mouse study suggests hydrogen-rich water may help protect against muscle loss during immobilization, but human studies are needed before any conclusions can be drawn for people. The findings are preliminary and limited to an animal model of temporary immobilization.
Abstract
Skeletal muscle atrophy is associated with poor quality of life and disability. Thus, finding a new strategy for the prevention and treatment of skeletal muscle atrophy is very crucial. This study aimed to investigate the therapeutic potential of hydrogen-rich water (HRW) on muscle atrophy in a unilateral hind limb immobilization model. Thirty-six male Balb/C mice were divided into control (without immobilization), atrophy, and atrophy + hydrogen-rich water (HRW). Unilateral hind limb immobilization was induced using a splint for 7 days (atrophy) and removed for 10 days (recovery). At the end of each phase, gastrocnemius and soleus muscle weight, limb grip strength, skeletal muscle histopathology, muscle fiber size, cross-section area (CSA), serum troponin I and skeletal muscle IL-6, TNF-α and Malondialdehyde (MDA), and mRNA expression of NF-κB, BAX and Beclin-1 were evaluated. Muscle weight and limb grip strength in the H2-treated group were significantly improved during the atrophy phase, and this improvement continued during the recovery period. Treatment by HRW increased CSA and muscle fiber size and reduced muscle fibrosis, serum troponin I, IL-6, TNF-α and MDA which was more prominent in the atrophy phase. These data suggest that HRW could improve muscle atrophy in an immobilized condition and could be considered a new strategy during rehabilitation.