[Alleviating effects of hydrogen on hyperhomocysteinemia and fatty liver induced by high-methionine diet].

Abstract

A rat model of hyperhomocysteinemia (HHcy) was established by feeding Wistar rats a high-methionine diet (AIN-93G supplemented with 2% methionine) for 6 weeks. Animals in the hydrogen-rich water (HRW) group received oral gavage of HRW at 0.8 mmol/L (3 ml per animal, twice daily). Compared with the high-methionine-only group, HRW-treated rats exhibited significantly reduced plasma homocysteine concentrations, attenuated hepatic histological damage, and elevated activity and mRNA expression of key enzymes involved in homocysteine metabolism. Lipid profiles and liver morphology also improved in the HRW group. These findings suggest that molecular hydrogen may lower excess circulating homocysteine by upregulating all three major metabolic pathways of homocysteine, thereby improving hepatic metabolic function and reducing non-alcoholic fatty liver pathology.

Mechanism

Hydrogen-rich water upregulates the activity and mRNA expression of key enzymes across the three major homocysteine metabolic pathways, reducing excess circulating homocysteine and thereby alleviating hepatic lipid accumulation and tissue injury.