H2-rich water improves cholesterol levels in metabolic syndromeScientific Research

Abstract:

We have found hydrogen (dihydrogen; H2) has beneficial lipid-lowering effects in high-fat diet-fed Syrian golden hamsters. The objective of this study was to characterize the effects of H2-rich water (0.9-1.0 L/day) on the content, composition, and biological activities of serum lipoproteins on 20 patients with potential metabolic syndrome. Serum analysis showed that consumption of H2-rich water for 10 weeks resulted in decreased serum total-cholesterol (TC) and low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C) levels. Western blot analysis revealed a marked decrease of apolipoprotein B100 (apoB100) and apoE in serum. Besides, we found H2 significantly improved high-density lipoprotein (HDL) functionality assessed in four independent ways, namely (i) protection against LDL oxidation, (ii) inhibition of TNF-α induced monocyte adhension to endothelial cells, (iii) stimulation of cholesterol efflux from macrophage foam cells, (iv) protection of endothelial cells from TNF-α induced apoptosis. Further, we found consumption of H2-rich water resulted in an increase in antioxidant enzyme superoxide dismutase and a decrease in thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances in whole serum and LDL. In conclusion, supplementation with H2-rich water appear to decrease serum LDL-C and apoB levels, improve dyslipidemia injured HDL functions, and reduce the oxidative stress and may have a beneficial role in prevention of potential metabolic syndrome.