# Hydrogen-rich water ameliorates rat placental stress induced by water restriction.
> 水素水摂取による妊娠ラットの水分制限誘発胎盤ストレスへの影響


## Abstract

Maternal dehydration during pregnancy is associated with fetal growth restriction and increased susceptibility to adult-onset diseases. This animal study assigned pregnant Wistar rats to three groups (n=12 each): ad libitum water control, water restriction (one hour of drinking access daily from gestational days 7–17), and hydrogen-rich water (HRW) under the same restriction schedule. Water restriction reduced urine output, elevated serum osmolality, and decreased fetal weight and crown-rump length. HRW supplementation significantly improved placental efficiency without altering placental weight or fetal number. Histopathological analysis revealed better-developed junctional zones and denser labyrinth structures in the HRW group. Serological reactive oxygen metabolites declined, while placental expression of angiotensin II type 1 receptor, NF-κB, malondialdehyde, 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine, p38, and c-Jun N-terminal kinase was reduced, and superoxide dismutase expression was restored. These findings indicate that HRW can mitigate placental oxidative stress caused by maternal water restriction.

### Mechanism

HRW suppresses angiotensin II type 1 receptor signaling along with NF-κB, p38, and JNK pathways, reduces lipid peroxidation markers (MDA, 8-OHdG), and restores superoxide dismutase activity, collectively reducing placental oxidative stress under dehydration conditions.

## Bibliographic

- **Authors**: Shi Y, Jin S, Qin H, Jiang H, Song G, Qin S
- **Journal**: Med Gas Res
- **Year**: 2018
- **PMID**: [30319761](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30319761/)
- **DOI**: [10.4103/2045-9912.241064](https://doi.org/10.4103/2045-9912.241064)
- **PMC**: [PMC6178645](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6178645/)
- **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 30319761. https://h2-papers.org/en/papers/30319761
> **Source**: PubMed PMID [30319761](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30319761/)