# Molecular hydrogen attenuates neuropathic pain in mice.
> 水素水の経口摂取がマウスの神経障害性疼痛を軽減する


## Abstract

A mouse partial sciatic nerve ligation model was used to evaluate whether hydrogen-rich drinking water could reduce neuropathic pain. Mechanical allodynia and thermal hyperalgesia were assessed over 21 days using the von Frey and plantar tests, respectively. Ad libitum access to saturated hydrogen water significantly reduced both pain indicators. Administration restricted to the induction phase (days 0–4) alleviated both allodynia and hyperalgesia, whereas administration only during the maintenance phase (days 4–21) reduced hyperalgesia but not allodynia. Immunohistochemical analysis of 4-hydroxy-2-nonenal and 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine in the spinal cord and dorsal root ganglion confirmed that hydrogen suppressed ligation-induced oxidative stress. These findings suggest that hydrogen water ingestion may offer a practical approach to managing neuropathic pain.

### Mechanism

Hydrogen-rich water suppresses oxidative stress markers (4-HNE and 8-OHdG) in the spinal cord and dorsal root ganglion, thereby reducing both the induction and maintenance of neuropathic pain following sciatic nerve ligation.

## Bibliographic

- **Authors**: Kawaguchi M, Satoh Y, Otsubo Y, Kazama T
- **Journal**: PLoS One
- **Year**: 2014
- **PMID**: [24941001](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24941001/)
- **DOI**: [10.1371/journal.pone.0100352](https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0100352)
- **PMC**: [PMC4062523](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4062523/)
- **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 24941001. https://h2-papers.org/en/papers/24941001
> **Source**: PubMed PMID [24941001](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24941001/)