Hydrogen-rich water decreases serum LDL-cholesterol levels and improves HDL function in patients with potential metabolic syndrome

Abstract

We have found that hydrogen (dihydrogen; H 2 ) has benefi cial lipid-lowering effects in high-fat diet-fed Syrian golden hamsters. The objective of this study was to characterize the effects of H 2 -rich water (0.9–1.0 l/day) on the content, composition, and biological activities of serum lipoproteins on 20 patients with potential metabolic syn- drome. Serum analysis showed that consumption of H 2 -rich water for 10 weeks resulted in decreased serum total-cho- lesterol (TC) and LDL-cholesterol (LDL-C) levels. Western blot analysis revealed a marked decrease of apolipoprotein (apo)B100 and apoE in serum. In addition, we found H 2 signifi cantly improved HDL functionality assessed in four independent ways, namely, i ) protection against LDL oxida- tion, ii ) inhibition of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)- 𝛼 -induced monocyte adhesion to endothelial cells, iii ) stimulation of cholesterol effl ux from macrophage foam cells, and iv ) pro- tection of endothelial cells from TNF- 𝛼 -induced apoptosis. Further, we found consumption of H 2 -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 H 2 -rich water seems to decrease serum LDL-C and apoB levels, improve dyslipidemia-injured HDL functions, and reduce oxidative stress, and it may have a benefi cial role in prevention of potential metabolic syndrome. —Song, G., M. Li, H. Sang, L. Zhang, X. Li, S. Yao, Y. Yu, C. Zong, Y. Xue, and S. Qin. Hydrogen-rich water decreases serum LDL-cholesterol levels and improves HDL function in pa- tients with potential metabolic syndrome. J. Lipid Res. 2013. 54: 1884–1893.

Study details

Article type

Original Research

Disease / injury model

Potential metabolic syndrome (prehypertension, prediabetes, dyslipidemia, overweight/obesity)

Duration

10 weeks

Dose-dependent effect

No

Outcome

Positive

Findings

Consumption of hydrogen-rich water for 10 weeks decreased serum total cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol levels, reduced apoB100 and apoE, improved HDL functionality, increased superoxide dismutase, and decreased oxidative stress markers in patients with potential metabolic syndrome.