# Consumption of hydrogen-rich water alleviates renal injury in spontaneous hypertensive rats.
> 水素水摂取が自然発症高血圧ラットの腎障害に及ぼす保護効果


## Abstract

This study examined the renal protective potential of hydrogen-rich water (HW; 1.3±0.2 mg/L) administered as drinking water for 3 months to spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) and age-matched Wistar-Kyoto controls. Although blood pressure remained unchanged, HW consumption markedly reduced renal injury markers. Mechanistically, reactive oxygen species generation was suppressed, while the activities of superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione-S-epoxide transferase, and catalase were elevated, and NADPH oxidase activity was diminished. Pro-inflammatory cytokines—TNF-α, IL-6, IL-1β, and MCP-1—were downregulated, likely through inhibition of NF-κB activation. Mitochondrial function, including ATP synthesis and membrane integrity, was also preserved in HW-treated SHR. These findings suggest that hydrogen-rich water intake may serve as a supplementary approach to mitigate hypertension-associated renal damage.

### Mechanism

Hydrogen-rich water scavenges reactive oxygen species, upregulates antioxidant enzymes (SOD, catalase, glutathione peroxidase), suppresses NADPH oxidase, and inhibits NF-κB-mediated inflammatory cytokine expression, collectively preserving mitochondrial ATP production and membrane integrity in hypertensive kidneys.

## Bibliographic

- **Authors**: Xin HG, Zhang BB, Wu ZQ, Hang XF, Xu W, Ni W, et al.
- **Journal**: Mol Cell Biochem
- **Year**: 2014
- **PMID**: [24652103](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24652103/)
- **DOI**: [10.1007/s11010-014-2024-4](https://doi.org/10.1007/s11010-014-2024-4)
- **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 24652103. https://h2-papers.org/en/papers/24652103
> **Source**: PubMed PMID [24652103](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24652103/)