# The healing effect of hydrogen-rich water on acute radiation-induced skin injury in rats.
> 急性放射線誘発皮膚障害に対する水素富化水の創傷治癒効果：ラットモデルによる検討


## Abstract

Using a rat model of acute radiation-induced skin injury established with a 44 Gy, 6 MeV electron beam, this study evaluated the wound-healing properties of hydrogen-rich water (HRW) at concentrations of 1.0 ppm and 2.0 ppm compared with distilled water. Both HRW groups showed significantly shorter healing times (P < 0.05). Tissue malondialdehyde (MDA) content and interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels were markedly reduced, while superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity was elevated at weeks 1, 2, and 3 (P < 0.001). Epidermal growth factor (EGF) levels increased significantly at weeks 1 and 2 (P < 0.05). The 2.0 ppm group demonstrated superior healing rates and further reductions in IL-6 compared with the 1.0 ppm group, indicating a concentration-dependent response. These findings suggest that HRW promotes recovery from radiation-induced skin lesions through antioxidative and anti-inflammatory mechanisms.

### Mechanism

HRW reduces oxidative stress by lowering MDA levels and enhancing SOD activity, suppresses inflammatory signaling via IL-6 reduction, and promotes tissue repair through upregulation of epidermal growth factor, collectively accelerating healing of radiation-induced skin wounds.

## Bibliographic

- **Authors**: Zhou P, Lin B, Wang P, Pan T, Wang SP, Chen W, et al.
- **Journal**: J Radiat Res
- **Year**: 2019 (2019-01-01)
- **PMID**: [30260398](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30260398/)
- **DOI**: [10.1093/jrr/rry074](https://doi.org/10.1093/jrr/rry074)
- **PMC**: [PMC6373674](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6373674/)
- **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 30260398. https://h2-papers.org/en/papers/30260398
> **Source**: PubMed PMID [30260398](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30260398/)