Effects of hydrogen-rich water and ascorbic acid treatment on spontaneously hypertensive rats.

Abstract

This study investigated the effects of hydrogen-rich water (HW) and HW supplemented with 0.1% ascorbic acid (HWA) in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). Under a normal diet, HW alone produced no significant change in systolic or diastolic blood pressure, whereas HWA suppressed blood pressure elevation. When SHR were placed on a 4% NaCl-enriched diet to exacerbate hypertension, HWA administration led to a significant reduction in blood pressure compared with distilled water controls. The HWA group also showed a tendency toward lower plasma angiotensin II concentrations, along with significantly reduced urinary volume and urinary sodium excretion. Urinary isoprostane, a marker of oxidative stress, was significantly lower in the HWA group, indicating that attenuation of oxidative stress may underlie the blood pressure-lowering effect. These findings point to a synergistic interaction between HW and ascorbic acid in modulating hypertension-related parameters.

Mechanism

The combination of hydrogen-rich water and ascorbic acid appears to synergistically reduce oxidative stress, evidenced by decreased urinary isoprostane, and may suppress blood pressure elevation partly through reduced angiotensin II levels.