Hydrogen-rich water reduces vascular dysfunction in a mouse model of sleep apnea

Abstract

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a chronic condition characterized by recurrent upper airway collapse during sleep, leading to chronic intermittent hypoxia (CIH) that can cause oxidative stress and chronic inflammation that lead to cardiovascular disease (CVD). Although continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) treatment is the gold standard for OSA treatment, it has little or no benefit in reducing CVD in multi-centre clinical trials. This, coupled with the low compliance to CPAP treatment, has stimulated interest in developing alternate treatments for OSA. Hydrogen-rich water (HRW) is water with extra hydrogen added and has been shown to have anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory properties in various diseases, and also in cellular senescence. We hypothesized that HRW improves vascular outcomes in mice exposed to CIH by suppressing oxidative stress, inflammation, and cellular senescence. Twenty 8-week old wild-type male CB57BL/6 mice were randomly assigned to receive either IH or normal air for 8 weeks, and also randomized to HRW and regular water. Urine samples were collected one day before euthanasia. Blood samples and thoracic aorta were immediately collected after euthanasia. Endothelial function, markers for oxidative stress, inflammation, and senescence were quantified. Impaired endothelium-dependent vasodilation (p < 0.05), increased vasoconstriction (p < 0.05), decreased basal NO (p < 0.05), increased asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) (p < 0.01), increased oxidative stress (p < 0.01) and inflammation markers, and increased senescence markers in IH-exposed mice were reduced by HRW treatment. These findings indicate that HRW may be a potentially promising therapy to prevent and reduce CVD in patients with OSA.

Study details

Article type

Original Research

Disease / injury model

Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) modeled by chronic intermittent hypoxia (CIH) in mice

Duration

8 weeks

Dose-dependent effect

No

Outcome

Positive

Findings

Hydrogen-rich water (HRW) treatment improved endothelial function, reduced oxidative stress, inflammation, and senescence markers in mice exposed to intermittent hypoxia, suggesting HRW as a promising therapy to prevent and reduce cardiovascular disease in obstructive sleep apnea.