# Dose-dependent inhibition of gastric injury by hydrogen in alkaline electrolyzed drinking water.
> アルカリ電解水中の水素濃度と胃粘膜保護効果の用量依存的関係


## Abstract

Using a rat model of aspirin-HCl-induced gastric mucosal injury, this study examined whether the protective effect of hydrogen dissolved in alkaline electrolyzed water follows a dose-response pattern. Rats consumed water containing 0.07, 0.22, or 0.84 ppm H2 at pH 8.5 for two weeks. Gastric erosion area, myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity, and malondialdehyde (MDA) content all showed strong positive correlations with hydrogen concentration, and histological analysis confirmed progressive reduction in mucosal damage. Serum 8-OHdG, however, did not exhibit a significant dose-dependent trend, which the authors attributed to hepatic glycogen buffering of circulating hydrogen levels. Water at pH 9.5 showed a numerically greater but statistically non-significant protective response compared with pH 8.5. These findings indicate that hydrogen exerts its gastroprotective action primarily through direct contact with gastric tissue rather than via systemic circulation.

### Mechanism

Hydrogen dissolved in drinking water directly scavenges reactive oxygen species at the gastric mucosa, suppressing MPO activity and lipid peroxidation (MDA). Systemic dose-response is attenuated because hepatic glycogen buffers circulating hydrogen concentrations, limiting its bioavailability beyond the gastrointestinal tract.

## Bibliographic

- **Authors**: Xue J, Shang G, Tanaka Y, Saihara Y, Hou L, Velasquez N, et al.
- **Journal**: BMC Complement Altern Med
- **Year**: 2014 (2014-03-03)
- **PMID**: [24589018](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24589018/)
- **DOI**: [10.1186/1472-6882-14-81](https://doi.org/10.1186/1472-6882-14-81)
- **PMC**: [PMC3944674](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3944674/)
- **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 24589018. https://h2-papers.org/en/papers/24589018
> **Source**: PubMed PMID [24589018](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24589018/)