Hydrogen-rich water treatment significantly improves HDL function through ABCA1-dependent cholesterol efflux activation and reduces plasma LDL cholesterol levels in patients with hypercholesterolemia. The therapeutic effects include enhanced anti-atherosclerotic properties of HDL, decreased oxidative stress and inflammatory markers, and improved endothelial cell protection, suggesting hydrogen therapy may have potential clinical applications in preventing atherosclerosis progression and managing hypercholesterolemia.
Plain-Language Summary
In a controlled study, 68 patients with high cholesterol drank either hydrogen-rich water or placebo water for 10 weeks. Researchers found that hydrogen water improved how HDL cholesterol (the 'good' cholesterol) works in the body—specifically, it enhanced the ability of HDL to remove harmful cholesterol from cells. The hydrogen water group also showed greater reductions in total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol (the 'bad' cholesterol) compared to placebo, along with lower markers of inflammation and oxidative stress (cellular damage).
Abstract
Context We have found that hydrogen (dihydrogen; H2) decreases plasma low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels and improves high-density lipoprotein (HDL) function in patients with potential metabolic syndrome in a before-after self-controlled study. Objective To further characterize the effects of H2-rich water (0.9 L/day) on the content, composition, and biological activities of plasma lipoproteins on patients with hypercholesterolemia and their underlying mechanisms in a double-blinded, randomized and placebo-controlled trial. Design Case control study. Setting Zhoudian community, Taian. Patients A total of 68 patients with untreated isolated hypercholesterolemia were randomly allocated to either drinking H2-rich water (n=34) or placebo water (n=34) for 10 weeks. Results HDL isolated from H2 group showed an increased ability to promote ATP-binding cassette transporter A1 (ABCA1)-mediated cholesterol efflux ex vivo. Plasma pre-β-HDL levels were upregulated although there were no changes in plasma HDL-cholesterol levels. Moreover, other HDL functions, assessed in protection against LDL oxidation, inhibition of oxidized-LDL induced inflammation, and protection of endothelial cells from oxidized-LDL induced apoptosis, were all significantly improved by H2 treatment. In addition, H2 treatment increased effective rate in down-regulating plasma levels of total-cholesterol (47.06% versus 17.65%) and LDL-cholesterol (47.06% versus 23.53%). Western blot analysis revealed a marked decrease of apolipoprotein B100 and an increase of apolipoprotein M in plasma of H2 group. Finally H2 treatment resulted in a significant reduction in the levels of several inflammatory and oxidative stress indicators in whole plasma and HDL particles. Conclusions H2 activates ATP-binding cassette transporter A1-dependent efflux, enhances HDL anti-atherosclerotic functions, and has beneficial lipid-lowering effects. The present finding may highlight the potential role of H2 in the regression of hypercholesterolemia and atherosclerosis.
DOI: 10.1210/jc.2015-1321
