# Molecular hydrogen is comparable to sulfasalazine as a treatment for DSS-induced colitis in mice.
> DSS誘発マウス大腸炎モデルにおける水素リッチウォーターとスルファサラジンの効果比較


## Abstract

An acute colitis model was established in mice by adding dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) to drinking water for seven days. Animals were divided into five groups: normal, colitis control, hydrogen-rich water (HRW), sulfasalazine, and HRW plus sulfasalazine. HRW was prepared using a hydrogen-generating tablet dissolved in water and administered both ad libitum and via oral gavage (200 µL) from days 3 to 10. Both HRW and sulfasalazine significantly improved body weight, Disease Activity Index scores, mucosal integrity, crypt preservation, and spleen weight relative to untreated colitis controls. Reductions in high-sensitivity C-reactive protein and restoration of redox markers—including total thiol content, superoxide dismutase, and catalase activity—were observed in both treatment groups. HRW showed a tendency to match or exceed the efficacy of sulfasalazine, and the combination regimen demonstrated an additive trend beyond either agent alone.

### Mechanism

HRW is proposed to suppress colonic inflammation and oxidative stress by reducing high-sensitivity CRP levels and restoring antioxidant capacity, including total thiol content, superoxide dismutase, and catalase activity.

## Bibliographic

- **Authors**: LeBaron TW, Asgharzadeh F, Khazei M, Kura B, Tarnava A, Slezak J
- **Journal**: EXCLI J
- **Year**: 2021
- **PMID**: [34345230](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34345230/)
- **DOI**: [10.17179/excli2021-3762](https://doi.org/10.17179/excli2021-3762)
- **PMC**: [PMC8326503](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8326503/)
- **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 34345230. https://h2-papers.org/en/papers/34345230
> **Source**: PubMed PMID [34345230](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34345230/)