Hydrogen Water Boosts Fat Burning and Extends Lifespan in Mice

Authors
Journal
NPJ Aging and Mechanisms of Disease
Year
DOI
10.1038/npjamd.2016.8
Study Type
Mouse
Outcome
Positive
Peer Reviewed
Yes
Country
Japan
Health Condition
Obesity
Body System
Metabolic

TL;DR

Drinking hydrogen-infused water can help fight obesity and diabetes in mice by boosting metabolism and even extend their lifespan.

Key Finding

Hydrogen water activated a gene called PGC-1α in mouse livers, which triggered a metabolic pathway that improved fat metabolism, reduced blood triglycerides, and extended lifespan in mice fed a high-fat diet.

Summary

Researchers gave mice with obesity and diabetes either hydrogen-infused water or a hydrogen-producing supplement and tracked changes in their liver genes. They found that hydrogen activated a gene called PGC-1α, which then triggered a chain reaction that improved how the mice's bodies burned fat and processed cholesterol. In mice fed a high-fat diet, hydrogen water lowered blood triglycerides (a type of fat) and increased lifespan.

Practical Takeaway

This study provides early evidence in mice that hydrogen water may support fat metabolism through specific genetic pathways. However, this research was conducted only in animals, not humans, so it's unclear whether these effects would occur in people. More human studies would be needed before drawing conclusions about hydrogen water's effects on metabolism or lifespan in humans.

Abstract

We previously reported that molecular hydrogen (H2) acts as a novel antioxidant to exhibit multiple functions. Moreover, long-term drinking of H2-water (water infused with H2) enhanced energy expenditure to improve obesity and diabetes in db/db mice accompanied by the increased expression of fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) by an unknown mechanism. H2 was ingested by drinking of H2-water or by oral administration of an H2-producing material, MgH2. The comprehensive gene expression profile in the liver of db/db mice was analyzed by DNA microarray. The molecular mechanisms underlying the gene expression profile was investigated using cultured HepG2 cells. Moreover, the effects on lifespan of drinking H2-water were examined using wild-type mice that were fed a fatty diet. Pathway analyses based on comprehensive gene expression revealed the increased expression of various genes involved in fatty acid and steroid metabolism. As a transcription pathway, the PPARα signaling pathway was identified to upregulate their genes by ingesting H2. As an early event, the gene expression of PGC-1α was transiently increased, followed by increased expression of FGF21. The expression of PGC-1α might be regulated indirectly through sequential regulation by H2, 4-hydroxy-2-nonenal, and Akt/FoxO1 signaling, as suggested in cultured cell experiments. In wild-type mice fed the fatty diet, H2-water improved the level of plasma triglycerides and extended their average of lifespan. H2 induces expression of the PGC-1α gene, followed by stimulation of the PPARα pathway that regulates FGF21, and the fatty acid and steroid metabolism.