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The study aimed to investigate the effects of long-term molecular hydrogen (H2) intervention, administered through hydrogen-rich water (HRW) intake and hydrogen inhalation (HI), on the physiological functions of healthy rats. This research sought to understand how hydrogen affects body weight and various serum biochemical parameters over a six-month period.
Thirty male Sprague–Dawley rats were divided into three groups: a control group that received no hydrogen treatment, an HRW group that drank hydrogen-rich water, and an HI group that was exposed to hydrogen gas inhalation. These treatments were applied to assess and compare the effects of different hydrogen delivery methods on the rats’ physiological functions.
The study found that both HRW intake and HI significantly altered various physiological parameters in the rats. Notable changes included variations in body weight, serum biochemical markers, and particularly in serum myocardial enzymes spectrum. HI demonstrated a more pronounced effect on reducing body weight throughout the study, with the most significant decrease observed after six months.
Yes, the alterations in most of the physiological parameters were more significant in the HI group compared to the HRW group. For instance, the reduction in body weight and certain serum biochemical markers, including those related to liver function and myocardial enzymes, showed a greater response to hydrogen gas inhalation than to drinking hydrogen-rich water.
The study found no significant changes in fasting blood glucose (FBG) levels in either the HRW or HI groups throughout the six-month period. However, a notable decrease in serum uric acid levels was observed, but this decline occurred only in the HI group and as late as the sixth month of the study.
Hydrogen treatment, particularly through inhalation, significantly affected serum lipid profiles. Both HRW intake and HI reduced total cholesterol (TC) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels at various points during the study. However, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) levels were decreased in the HI group more significantly and later in the study, suggesting a differential impact of hydrogen delivery methods on lipid metabolism.
Yes, hydrogen therapy influenced liver function indexes. While HRW intake had no significant effect on alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels, HI showed a marked decrease in ALT, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and total bile acid (TBA) levels at different points during the study, indicating a potential hepatoprotective effect of hydrogen gas inhalation.
The study observed significant decreases in the activities of serum myocardial enzymes, including lactic dehydrogenase (LDH), α-hydroxybutyric dehydrogenase (HDB), creatine kinase (CK), and its isoenzyme creatine kinase-MB (CK-MB) due to hydrogen therapy. These changes were more pronounced in the HI group compared to the HRW group, suggesting that hydrogen gas inhalation may have a stronger protective effect on cardiac function.
The study highlights the potential of long-term molecular hydrogen intervention, especially through inhalation, to positively impact physiological functions even in a normal state. These findings provide a foundation for further investigation into the mechanisms by which hydrogen exerts its effects and its potential therapeutic applications in preventing or treating various diseases. The differences observed between hydrogen-rich water intake and hydrogen inhalation also open avenues for exploring the most effective delivery methods for specific health outcomes.
