The potential cardioprotective effects of hydrogen in irradiated mice.

Abstract

Ionizing radiation causes tissue damage primarily through hydroxyl radical generation. This murine study investigated whether hydrogen-rich water (pure water saturated with molecular hydrogen) could protect cardiac tissue from radiation-induced injury. Mice receiving hydrogen-rich water showed suppression of myocardial degeneration following irradiation. Cardiac levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) and 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine (8-OHdG), both markers of oxidative damage, were reduced, while endogenous antioxidant activity in myocardial tissue was elevated. These findings indicate that molecular hydrogen exerts a cardioprotective effect against radiation-induced oxidative injury in vivo, likely through selective scavenging of hydroxyl radicals.

Mechanism

Molecular hydrogen selectively scavenges hydroxyl radicals, reducing myocardial MDA and 8-OHdG accumulation while enhancing endogenous antioxidant defenses, thereby mitigating radiation-induced oxidative damage to cardiac tissue.