Hydrogen in drinking water attenuates noise-induced hearing loss in guinea pigs

Abstract

It has been shown that molecular hydrogen acts as a therapeutic and preventive antioxidant by selectively reducing the hydroxyl radical, the most cytotoxic of the reactive oxygen species. In the present study, we tested the hypothesis that acoustic damage in guinea pigs can be attenuated by the consumption of molecular hydrogen. Guinea pigs received normal water or hydrogen-rich water for 14 days before they were exposed to 115 dB SPL 4-kHz octave band noise for 3 h. Animals in each group underwent measurements for auditory brainstem response (ABR) or distortion-product otoacoustic emissions (DPOAEs) before the treatment (baseline) and immediately, 1, 3, 7, and 14 days after noise exposure. The ABR thresholds at 2 and 4 kHz were significantly better on post-noise days 1, 3, and 14 in hydrogen-treated animals when compared to the normal water-treated controls. Compared to the controls, the hydrogen-treated animals showed greater amplitude of DPOAE input/output growth functions during the recovery process, with statistical significance detected on post-noise days 3 and 7. These findings suggest that hydrogen can facilitate the recovery of hair cell function and attenuate noise-induced temporary hearing loss. © 2010 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Study details

Article type

Original Research

Disease / injury model

Noise-induced temporary threshold shift (TTS) / hearing loss

Duration

28 days

Dose comparison

Only one concentration of hydrogen-rich water (>0.4 mM) was used; no dose comparison was performed.

Dose-dependent effect

No

Outcome

Positive

Findings

Hydrogen-rich water consumption attenuated noise-induced temporary threshold shift (TTS) in guinea pigs, as evidenced by significantly better ABR thresholds and greater DPOAE amplitudes during recovery compared to controls. This suggests hydrogen facilitates recovery of hair cell function and reduces hearing loss after acoustic trauma.