# Electrolyzed Hydrogen Water Protects against Ethanol-Induced Cytotoxicity by Regulating Aldehyde Metabolism-Associated Enzymes in the Hepatic Cell Line HepG2.
> 電解水素水によるエタノール誘発細胞毒性の抑制：HepG2肝細胞株におけるアルデヒド代謝酵素の調節機序


## Abstract

Excessive alcohol intake is associated with hepatic injury. This in vitro study examined whether electrolyzed hydrogen water (EHW) could protect HepG2 hepatocytes from ethanol-induced cytotoxicity. EHW was found to reduce intracellular acetaldehyde accumulation by suppressing alcohol dehydrogenase activity, thereby limiting the conversion of ethanol to this toxic intermediate. Concurrently, EHW activated aldehyde dehydrogenase, accelerating acetaldehyde conversion to acetic acid and lowering intracellular reactive oxygen species levels. The protective effects correlated with dissolved hydrogen concentration and were eliminated by degassing, implicating molecular hydrogen as the principal active component. High-dissolved-hydrogen water without electrolysis produced comparable hepatoprotective effects, further supporting this conclusion. These findings suggest that molecular hydrogen in EHW may help mitigate ethanol-induced hepatocellular damage through dual regulation of aldehyde-metabolizing enzymes.

### Mechanism

EHW suppresses alcohol dehydrogenase to reduce acetaldehyde production from ethanol, while activating aldehyde dehydrogenase to accelerate acetaldehyde-to-acetic acid conversion, collectively lowering intracellular reactive oxygen species in HepG2 cells.

## Bibliographic

- **Authors**: Yano S, Wang J, Kabayama S, Hara T
- **Journal**: Antioxidants (Basel)
- **Year**: 2021 (2021-05-19)
- **PMID**: [34069398](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34069398/)
- **DOI**: [10.3390/antiox10050801](https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox10050801)
- **PMC**: [PMC8158728](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8158728/)
- **Study type**: in vitro study
- **Delivery route**: in vitro
- **Effect reported**: positive

## Delivery context

This is basic research at the cellular or molecular level. For human application, inhalation is the most promising delivery route, but inhalation carries explosion risk and concentration matters (empirical LFL of 10%; high-concentration devices are not recommended).

## Safety notes

This is basic research at the cellular or molecular level. For human application, inhalation is the most promising delivery route, but inhalation carries explosion risk and concentration matters (empirical LFL of 10%; high-concentration devices 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 34069398. https://h2-papers.org/en/papers/34069398
> **Source**: PubMed PMID [34069398](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34069398/)