Effects of long-term hydrogen intervention on the physiological function of rats

Abstract

The potential therapeutic effects of molecular hydrogen (H2) have now been confirmed in various human and animal-disease models. However, the effects of H2 on the physiological function in a normal state have been largely neglected. Hydrogen-rich water (HRW) intake and hydrogen inhalation (HI) are the most common used methods for hydrogen administration, the difference in the effects between HRW intake and HI remains elusive. In the present study, the body weight and 13 serum biochemical parameters were monitored during the six-month hydrogen intervention, all these parameters were significantly altered by oral intake of HRW or HI. Among the 13 parameters, the most striking alterations induced by hydrogen treatment were observed in serum myocardial enzymes spectrum. The results also showed that the changes in these parameters occurred at different time points, and the alterations in most of the parameters were much more significant in HI than HRW. The results of this study provides the basic data for the mechanism research and application of molecular hydrogen in the future.

Long-term and daily use of molecular hydrogen induces reprogramming of liver metabolism in rats by modulating NADP/NADPH redox pathways

“…Long-term H 2 intervention reduced the body weight of rats in the HI group (455.20 ± 31.57 g), while no significant changes were observed in the HRW group (498.80 ± 18.50 g) compared to controls (525.00 ± 17.78 g) (Fig. 2 A) 24 . Visceral fat volume (HRW: 7760 ± 429 mm 3 ; HI: 6260 ± 1624 mm 3 ; CTRL: 13,960 ± 4138 mm 3 ) (Fig.…”

“…We recently found that H 2 -treated rats (HRW and HI) had reduced serum levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and total bile acid (TBA) 24 , suggesting that prolonged exposure to H 2 could influence liver physiology and functions. To study the global effects of long-term H 2 treatment on the liver, we performed an RNA sequencing (RNA seq) analysis of liver tissues collected from untreated rats (Control group), rats given hydrogen-rich water (HRW) or inhaled 4% H 2 (HI) 2 h daily for 6 months (Fig.…”

“…These data suggest that still little is known about H 2 performance under healthy conditions and therefore requires further research. As part of an effort to provide more data to help better understand the therapeutic functions attributed to the biological activities of H 2 in health conditions, our laboratory has initiated a study that evaluated the effect of long-term (6 months) hydrogen intervention on the physiological function of healthy rats 24 . The study found that H 2 induces a time-dependent alteration of different biochemical parameters, among which liver injury markers such as alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and total bile acid (TBA) were significantly reduced in the serum of H 2 -treated rats 24 , suggesting that liver physiology and functions could be positively affected by prolonged exposure to H 2 .…”

“…As part of an effort to provide more data to help better understand the therapeutic functions attributed to the biological activities of H 2 in health conditions, our laboratory has initiated a study that evaluated the effect of long-term (6 months) hydrogen intervention on the physiological function of healthy rats 24 . The study found that H 2 induces a time-dependent alteration of different biochemical parameters, among which liver injury markers such as alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and total bile acid (TBA) were significantly reduced in the serum of H 2 -treated rats 24 , suggesting that liver physiology and functions could be positively affected by prolonged exposure to H 2 . In the present study, we used transcriptomic and metabolomic approaches coupled with biochemistry and micro-CT techniques to access the global effects of long-term H 2 treatment on the liver and its relationship with body conditions.…”

Effects of Long-Term Hydrogen Intervention on Plasma Metabolites and Gut Microbiome of Rats in Health Status

“…One of the aims of the present study was to explore the possible regulatory effects of long term of HRW intake and hydrogen inhalation on gut microbiome. Our previous study showed that long term of HRW intake or hydrogen inhalation can influence some serum biochemical parameters of normal rats, indicating the potential modulatory effect of hydrogen consumption on metabolism in health status [8]. To further investigate the effect of hydrogen consumption on metabolism, LC-MS based pseudotargeted metabolomics analysis was performed to determine the changes in the levels of plasma metabolites.…”