Hydrogen Water Lowers Blood Sugar in Diabetic Mice Study
- Authors
- Mi-Ja Kim, Hye Kyung Kim
- Journal
- Life Sciences
- Year
- 2006
- DOI
- 10.1016/j.lfs.2006.07.027
- Study Type
- Mouse
- Outcome
- Positive
- Peer Reviewed
- Yes
- Country
- South Korea
- Health Condition
- Type 1 Diabetes
- Body System
- Endocrine
TL;DR
Drinking water treated to remove harmful oxygen-containing molecules lowered blood sugar levels in diabetic mice.
Key Finding
Electrolyzed reduced water significantly lowered blood glucose levels and improved glucose tolerance in both type 1 and type 2 diabetic mouse models.
Summary
Researchers tested electrolyzed reduced water (water processed to contain hydrogen and have antioxidant properties) in two types of diabetic mice—one model mimicking type 1 diabetes and one mimicking type 2 diabetes. When the mice drank this water instead of regular water, their blood sugar levels dropped and their bodies handled glucose better. The water appeared to work by improving how well insulin worked and, in some cases, by increasing insulin production.
Practical Takeaway
This is early-stage animal research showing potential promise, but it cannot yet be applied to humans. The study used only mice, the treatment duration and sample size were not reported, and the exact mechanism remains unclear. Human clinical trials would be needed before any health claims could be made about hydrogen water and diabetes management.
Abstract
Oxidative stress is produced under diabetic conditions and is likely involved in progression of pancreatic beta-cell dysfunction found in diabetes. Both an increase in reactive oxygen free radical species (ROS) and a decrease in the antioxidant defense mechanism lead to the increase in oxidative stress in diabetes. Electrolyzed reduced water (ERW) with ROS scavenging ability may have a potential effect on diabetic animals, a model for high oxidative stress. Therefore, the present study examined the possible anti-diabetic effect of ERW in two different diabetic animal models. The genetically diabetic mouse strain C57BL/6J-db/db (db/db) and streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic mouse were used as insulin deficient type 1 and insulin resistant type 2 animal model, respectively. ERW, provided as a drinking water, significantly reduced the blood glucose concentration and improved glucose tolerance in both animal models. However, ERW fail to affect blood insulin levels in STZ-diabetic mice whereas blood insulin level was markedly increased in genetically diabetic db/db mice. This improved blood glucose control could result from enhanced insulin sensitivity, as well as increased insulin release. The present data suggest that ERW may function as an orally effective anti-diabetic agent and merit further studies on its precise mechanism.