# Hydrogen improves neurological function through attenuation of blood-brain barrier disruption in spontaneously hypertensive stroke-prone rats.
> 水素富化水の長期摂取が自然発症高血圧脳卒中易発症ラットにおける神経機能および血液脳関門障害に与える影響


## Abstract

Fifty-six stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRSP) were randomly divided into a hydrogen-rich water (HRW) group and a control group receiving regular water. After long-term administration, the HRW group demonstrated improved neurological function scores and a reduced number of hemorrhagic and ischemic lesions in the cortex and hippocampus. In the hippocampus, the number of 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine-positive cells and albumin-extravasating vessels were significantly lower in the HRW group. Additionally, MMP-9 activity was suppressed in the hippocampus of HRW-treated animals. Overall survival showed a trend toward improvement without reaching statistical significance. These findings indicate that reactive oxygen species reduction and MMP-9 suppression may underlie the observed preservation of blood-brain barrier integrity and the associated improvement in neurological outcomes.

### Mechanism

Ingestion of hydrogen-rich water reduces reactive oxygen species and suppresses MMP-9 activity in the hippocampus, thereby attenuating blood-brain barrier disruption and contributing to improved neurological function in hypertensive stroke-prone rats.

## Bibliographic

- **Authors**: Takeuchi S, Nagatani K, Otani N, Nawashiro H, Sugawara T, Wada K, et al.
- **Journal**: BMC Neurosci
- **Year**: 2015 (2015-04-20)
- **PMID**: [25925889](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25925889/)
- **DOI**: [10.1186/s12868-015-0165-3](https://doi.org/10.1186/s12868-015-0165-3)
- **PMC**: [PMC4411925](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4411925/)
- **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 25925889. https://h2-papers.org/en/papers/25925889
> **Source**: PubMed PMID [25925889](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25925889/)