# Consumption of hydrogen-rich water ameliorates atherosclerosis by modulating gut microbiota and enhancing short-chain fatty acid levels.
> 水素水摂取による腸内細菌叢・短鎖脂肪酸経路を介した動脈硬化抑制効果


## Abstract

Using ApoE-knockout mice as an atherosclerosis model, this study examined how hydrogen-rich water (HW) consumption affects plaque development and vascular stability. HW-fed animals showed marked reductions in plaque burden alongside altered gut microbial community structure and modified short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) profiles. Antibiotic-mediated microbiota depletion eliminated the protective phenotype, whereas fecal microbiota transplantation from HW-treated donors reproduced anti-atherosclerotic effects in recipient mice, confirming a gut microbiota-dependent mechanism. Propionate concentrations rose significantly in both cecal contents and serum of HW-treated animals. In vitro experiments demonstrated that propionate directly inhibited M1 macrophage polarization and attenuated inflammatory signaling. Collectively, the findings identify a gut microbiota–propionate–macrophage axis as a central pathway through which HW reduces vascular inflammation and plaque progression.

### Mechanism

HW reshapes gut microbial composition, elevating propionate levels in cecal contents and serum; propionate in turn suppresses M1 macrophage polarization and inflammatory signaling, thereby reducing atherosclerotic plaque formation and improving plaque stability.

## Bibliographic

- **Authors**: Meng F, Xue M, Li H, Tao G, Chen W, Li Y, et al.
- **Journal**: Life Sci
- **Year**: 2026 (2026-04-30)
- **PMID**: [42069299](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42069299/)
- **DOI**: [10.1016/j.lfs.2026.124418](https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lfs.2026.124418)
- **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 42069299. https://h2-papers.org/en/papers/42069299
> **Source**: PubMed PMID [42069299](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42069299/)