# Effect of molecular hydrogen on uterine inflammation during preterm labour.
> 早産における子宮炎症に対する水素分子の効果


## Abstract

Intrauterine inflammation is a key driver of preterm birth and neonatal complications. Using an LPS-induced preterm labour mouse model (pregnant ICR/CD-1 mice), this study examined whether oral hydrogen-rich water (HW) administered 24 hours before LPS injection could modulate uterine inflammatory responses. The interval from LPS administration to delivery was significantly prolonged in the HW+LPS group compared with the LPS-only group (33.5±3.4 vs. 18.3±8.8 h; P=0.020). Serum progesterone levels were also significantly elevated in HW-treated animals (P=0.002). In uterine tissue collected 6 hours post-LPS, transcript levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines, contractile-associated proteins, MMP-3, and endothelin-1 were markedly reduced by HW pretreatment, as were Cox2 protein levels assessed by immunohistochemistry. Exceptions included interleukin-8 and one additional marker, which did not reach significance. Collectively, these findings indicate that maternal hydrogen-rich water intake can attenuate LPS-induced uterine inflammatory changes and delay the onset of preterm parturition in rodents.

### Mechanism

Hydrogen-rich water appears to suppress uterine Cox2 expression, pro-inflammatory cytokine transcription, contractile-associated protein upregulation, and MMP-3 production while preserving progesterone levels, collectively delaying LPS-induced preterm parturition.

## Bibliographic

- **Authors**: Nakano T, Kotani T, Imai K, Iitani Y, Ushida T, Tsuda H, et al.
- **Journal**: Biomed Rep
- **Year**: 2018
- **PMID**: [29732148](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29732148/)
- **DOI**: [10.3892/br.2018.1082](https://doi.org/10.3892/br.2018.1082)
- **PMC**: [PMC5920961](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5920961/)
- **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 29732148. https://h2-papers.org/en/papers/29732148
> **Source**: PubMed PMID [29732148](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29732148/)