# Protective effects of hydrogen-rich saline on ulcerative colitis rat model.
> 水素富化生理食塩水による潰瘍性大腸炎ラットモデルへの保護効果


## Abstract

Using a rat model of ulcerative colitis (UC) induced by intracolonic acetic acid administration, this study examined the effects of intraperitoneally injected hydrogen-rich saline at doses of 10 or 20 mL/kg, administered once every two days for two weeks. Animals receiving hydrogen-rich saline showed reduced body weight loss and diarrhea, along with improved macroscopic and microscopic colonic mucosal damage scores compared with untreated UC controls. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed that vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression, which was elevated in UC colonic mucosa, was suppressed following hydrogen administration. These findings suggest that the antioxidant properties of hydrogen-rich saline contribute to mucosal protection in UC, at least partly through downregulation of VEGF-mediated angiogenic signaling.

### Mechanism

Hydrogen scavenges reactive oxygen species, thereby suppressing VEGF expression in colonic mucosa and reducing aberrant angiogenesis, which collectively attenuates mucosal injury in acetic acid-induced ulcerative colitis.

## Bibliographic

- **Authors**: He J, Xiong S, Zhang JH, Wang J, Sun A, Mei X, et al.
- **Journal**: J Surg Res
- **Year**: 2013
- **PMID**: [23773716](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23773716/)
- **DOI**: [10.1016/j.jss.2013.05.047](https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jss.2013.05.047)
- **Study type**: animal study
- **Delivery route**: injection / infusion
- **Effect reported**: positive

## Delivery context

Intravenous hydrogen-saline infusion is a clinic-only route and is not viable for everyday self-administration. For routine hydrogen intake, inhalation is the most practical route, but inhalation carries explosion risk and concentration matters (empirical LFL of 10%; high-concentration 66% / 100% devices are not recommended).

## Safety notes

Intravenous hydrogen-saline infusion is a clinic-only route and is not viable for everyday self-administration. For routine hydrogen intake, inhalation is the most practical route, but inhalation carries explosion risk and concentration matters (empirical LFL of 10%; high-concentration 66% / 100% devices 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 23773716. https://h2-papers.org/en/papers/23773716
> **Source**: PubMed PMID [23773716](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23773716/)