# Hydrogen in drinking water attenuates noise-induced hearing loss in guinea pigs.
> 飲料水中の水素がモルモットにおける騒音性難聴を軽減する


## Abstract

This animal study examined whether prior consumption of hydrogen-rich water could reduce cochlear damage caused by intense noise exposure in guinea pigs. Animals received either hydrogen-rich water or plain water for 14 days before being subjected to 115 dB SPL octave-band noise centered at 4 kHz for 3 hours. Auditory brainstem response (ABR) thresholds and distortion-product otoacoustic emissions (DPOAEs) were measured at baseline and at multiple time points up to 14 days post-exposure. At 2 kHz and 4 kHz, ABR thresholds were significantly lower (better) in the hydrogen-water group on post-exposure days 1, 3, and 14 compared with controls. DPOAE input/output growth function amplitudes were also significantly greater in hydrogen-treated animals on days 3 and 7 of recovery. The results indicate that hydrogen-rich water intake prior to noise exposure facilitates hair cell functional recovery and reduces temporary noise-induced hearing loss.

### Mechanism

Molecular hydrogen is proposed to selectively scavenge hydroxyl radicals generated during intense noise exposure, thereby reducing oxidative damage to cochlear hair cells and supporting auditory recovery.

## Bibliographic

- **Authors**: Lin Y, Kashio A, Sakamoto T, Suzukawa K, Kakigi A, Yamasoba T
- **Journal**: Neurosci Lett
- **Year**: 2011 (2011-01-03)
- **PMID**: [20888392](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20888392/)
- **DOI**: [10.1016/j.neulet.2010.09.064](https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neulet.2010.09.064)
- **Study type**: animal study
- **Delivery route**: hydrogen-rich water
- **Effect reported**: positive

## Delivery context

Hydrogen-rich water is a low-risk delivery route, but the achievable systemic hydrogen dose is bounded. For clinical applications, inhalation is the most efficient route; inhalation, however, carries explosion risk, and concentration matters (empirical LFL of 10% applies to inhalation environments; high-concentration devices are documented in the Consumer Affairs Agency accident database and are not recommended).

## Safety notes

Hydrogen-rich water is a low-risk delivery route, but the achievable systemic hydrogen dose is bounded. For clinical applications, inhalation is the most efficient route; inhalation, however, carries explosion risk, and concentration matters (empirical LFL of 10% applies to inhalation environments; high-concentration devices are documented in the Consumer Affairs Agency accident database and are not recommended).

See also:
- [Inhalation concentration and LFL / UFL](https://h2-papers.org/en/safety-notes/inhalation-concentration)
- [Consumer Affairs Agency accident cases](https://h2-papers.org/en/safety-notes/accident-cases)
- [Inhalation safety threshold lineage](https://h2-papers.org/en/safety-notes/lineage)

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> **Cite as**: H2 Papers — PMID 20888392. https://h2-papers.org/en/papers/20888392
> **Source**: PubMed PMID [20888392](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20888392/)