# Hydrogen-Rich Water Ameliorates Total Body Irradiation-Induced Hematopoietic Stem Cell Injury by Reducing Hydroxyl Radical.
> 水素水摂取による全身照射誘発造血幹細胞障害の軽減：ヒドロキシルラジカル消去を介したメカニズム


## Abstract

This mouse study investigated the protective capacity of hydrogen-rich water (HW) against hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) damage induced by total body irradiation (TBI). In c-kit-positive cells from 4 Gy-irradiated mice, HW intake led to a marked reduction in hydroxyl radical levels. Bone marrow cell proliferation increased while apoptosis in c-kit-positive cells decreased following HW consumption. Reductions in γ-H2AX mean fluorescence intensity and 8-oxoguanine-positive cell proportions indicated attenuation of both general and oxidative DNA damage. Key proteins governing cell cycle (P21), apoptosis (BCL-XL, BAK), and antioxidant responses (NRF2, HO-1, NQO1, SOD, GPX1) were significantly modulated in irradiated c-kit-positive cells after HW administration. These findings collectively indicate that HW preserves HSC number, self-renewal capacity, and differentiation potential under TBI conditions.

### Mechanism

HW selectively scavenges hydroxyl radicals in c-kit-positive hematopoietic stem cells, activating the NRF2/HO-1/NQO1 antioxidant pathway while modulating BCL-XL and BAK to suppress apoptosis and reduce oxidative DNA damage.

## Bibliographic

- **Authors**: Zhang JH, Xue X, Han X, Li Y, Lu L, Li DZ, et al.
- **Journal**: Oxid Med Cell Longev
- **Year**: 2017
- **PMID**: [28243358](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28243358/)
- **DOI**: [10.1155/2017/8241678](https://doi.org/10.1155/2017/8241678)
- **PMC**: [PMC5294227](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5294227/)
- **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 28243358. https://h2-papers.org/en/papers/28243358
> **Source**: PubMed PMID [28243358](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28243358/)