Diabetes, one of the major diseases of our time, seems to be strongly related to excess of ROS and usually with hypertension and atherosclerosis. Once the potential of hydrogen water was foreseen, studies were carried out to assess the effects on prevention and treatment of diabetes. Clinical trials are being conducted in Japan and evidence on improving disease has been published.
The appearance of the disease is due to increased lipid peroxidation, as a result of ROS activity. Lipid peroxidation refers to the oxidation of unsaturated fatty acids. Thay are the backbone of the cell wall. Preventing and improving diabetes requieres ROS scavenging. Given the antioxidant power of hydrogen as well as its capability to neutralize free radicals, the intake of hydrogen water is beneficial to prevent and improve diabetes.
The production of oxidative stress as a consequence of high blood glucose levels causes an overproduction of ROS, which results in the development of skin lesions in diabetic patients. Administering hydrogen to human skin fibroblasts exposed to oxidative stress induced by high glucose and mannose levels improves the viability of these cells and reduces the skin lesions due to the antioxidant properties of hydrogen as well as to the reduction of hydrogen oxidation products.
Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) are a key factor in the development of skin lesions whenever diabetes is present. Hydrogen is a new antioxidant which neutralizes hydroxyl radicals (OH) and peroxynitrite (ONOO). It does not act on other ROS with physiological activity.
The protective effects of hydrogen in human skin fibroblasts subjected to oxidative stress caused by high levels of glucose and mannitol have been researched. The use of hydrogen significantly reduced the intracellular level of O2 anion and mitigated the production of oxidative stress markers (MDA, 8-OHdG and 3-NT) which resulted in the improvement of the antioxidant defense system and protected the fibroblasts from oxidative stress damage. Based on the results, hydrogen may have applications in treating skin diseases caused by diabetes.
The beneficial effects of hydrogen rich water in the prevention of diabetes and metabolic syndrome (obesity, diabetes, hypertension and cholesterol) have been demonstrated in three trials:
In a clinical trial conducted with 30 patients with type 2 diabetes (DM2) and with 6 patients with impaired glucose tolerance, the intake of 900 mL of hydrogen water for 8 weeks reduced levels of several oxidative stress markers, including LDL cholesterol, and improved glucose metabolism in patients with T2DM or IGT. Due to the hydrogen capability to reduce oxidative stress, hydrogen water supplementation prevents DM2 and insulin resistance and lipid metabolism improvement.
In a study conducted with 20 patients with metabolic syndrome, drinking 1.5-2 litres of hydrogen water a day for 8 weeks improved the antioxidant state of patients. Good HDL cholesterol increased and total cholesterol decreased, reducing levels of oxidative stress indicators. In addition, patients treated with hydrogen water showed significant improvements in liver and kidney functions.
In a study conducted with 20 patients suffering from metabolic syndrome, content, composition and biological activity of serum lipoproteins by the hydrogen water effect were analysed. The intake of 0,9-1 litrea a day for 10 weeks resulted in total cholesterol and LDL levels reduction and it improved the function of HDL cholesterol, as well as the antioxidant state of patients. These results demonstrate the beneficial role of hydrogen water in patients suffering from metabolic syndrome.