How Hydrogen Nanobubbles Affect Gut Bacteria: New Research Findings
- Authors
- Jinfang Lu, Jin Zheng, Yadi Wang, Jie Cheng, Xueling Li, Jun Hu, Bin Li, Junhong Lü
- Journal
- Journal of Zhejiang University-SCIENCE B
- Year
- 2021
- DOI
- 10.1631/jzus.B2100407
- Study Type
- Cell Culture
- Outcome
- Positive
- Peer Reviewed
- Yes
- Country
- China
- Health Condition
- Gut Dysbiosis
- Body System
- Digestive
TL;DR
Drinking water rich in hydrogen gas may have health benefits, including antioxidant effects and improving gut bacteria, but more research is needed to understand how it works.
Key Finding
Hydrogen nanobubbles directly interact with E. coli bacteria at the molecular level, providing a potential mechanism for how hydrogen-rich water might influence gut microbiota composition.
Summary
This study examined how hydrogen nanobubbles (tiny bubbles of hydrogen gas) affect E. coli bacteria in a laboratory dish using specialized spectroscopy equipment. The research aimed to understand the direct mechanisms by which molecular hydrogen might change the composition and function of gut bacteria, filling a gap in knowledge about how hydrogen-rich water could produce health benefits.
Practical Takeaway
This is an early-stage laboratory study in bacteria, not humans, so it cannot yet support health claims about hydrogen water. While the findings suggest hydrogen may directly affect bacterial cells, much more research—including human studies—is needed to determine whether these effects translate to meaningful health benefits in people.
Abstract
Hydrogen (H2)-rich water, an apparent source of molecular H2, is an emerging functional drink with many purported benefits for human health (Yang et al., 2020; Ostojic, 2021). The preventive and therapeutic effects of H2 on various pathological processes have been intensively investigated in numerous clinical trials; it is commonly believed that the beneficial effects are mainly attributed to its selective antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties (Lee et al., 2015; Ohta, 2015; LeBaron et al., 2019; Qiu et al., 2020). In recent years, a handful of rodent studies revealed that exogenous H2 can affect the gut microbiota (Sha et al., 2018; Valdes et al., 2018). For example, H2 was reported to induce a higher abundance of butyrate-producing bacteria in a rat model of Parkinson's disease (Bordoni et al., 2019). Recent first-in-human trials have explored the effects of the long-term consumption of H2-rich water on antioxidant activity and the gut flora (Sha et al., 2018; Suzuki et al., 2018). Although these promising results suggest that the intestinal microbiota may be another plausible target for molecular H2, more studies are highly warranted to explain the mechanism(s) of H2 action on bacterial growth and functions.