# Effects of hydrogen-rich water on depressive-like behavior in mice.
> 水素水摂取がマウスのうつ様行動に与える影響とその神経炎症・酸化ストレス抑制メカニズムの検討


## Abstract

Neuroinflammation and oxidative stress are recognized as key contributors to major depressive disorder. This animal study examined whether drinking hydrogen-rich water could alleviate depressive-like behavior in a chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) mouse model. After 4 weeks of hydrogen-rich water administration, CUMS-induced elevations of IL-1β protein in the hippocampus and cortex were markedly reduced. Overexpression of caspase-1, the enzyme responsible for IL-1β maturation, and excessive reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation in the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex were also suppressed. These findings indicate that inflammasome activation and subsequent IL-1β and ROS overproduction may underlie CUMS-induced depressive phenotypes, and that hydrogen-rich water can counteract these pathological processes.

### Mechanism

Hydrogen-rich water suppresses inflammasome activation, reducing caspase-1 overexpression and thereby lowering IL-1β maturation and excessive ROS production in the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex, which collectively attenuates depressive-like behavior.

## Bibliographic

- **Authors**: Zhang YJ, Su WJ, Chen Y, Wu TY, Gong H, Shen XL, et al.
- **Journal**: Sci Rep
- **Year**: 2016 (2016-03-30)
- **PMID**: [27026206](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27026206/)
- **DOI**: [10.1038/srep23742](https://doi.org/10.1038/srep23742)
- **PMC**: [PMC4812321](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4812321/)
- **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 27026206. https://h2-papers.org/en/papers/27026206
> **Source**: PubMed PMID [27026206](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27026206/)