Oxidative stress, inflammation and apoptosis are the main effects of cell loss after acute spinal cord injury or traumatic brain injury.
Experimental studies have shown that treatment with hydrogen rich water improves locomotor functional recovery after spinal cord injury. It reverses the consequences of an impact in the skull, and can be highly effective in the treatment of traumatic brain injury.
In a rat model induced by spinal damage, administration of a rich in hydrogen saline solution resulted in a reduction of apoptotic cells, it scavenged oxidative stress, improved locomotive functions and increased release of BDNF (brain-derived neurotrophic factor) which promotes proliferation, differentiation and survival of neurons.
The hydrogen-rich saline solution showed neuroprotective effects since it reduced acute spinal injury due to contusion, possibly by reducing oxidative stress and by increasing BDNF.
Acute head trauma is a serious problem that can become chronic as well as a risk factor for neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson's or Alzheimer's, probably due to induction of oxidative stress and neuroinflammation.
It has been shown that antioxidant properties of molecular hydrogen reverse many sequelae of a controlled cortical impact and could become an effective and easy to administer treatment for cranial injuries.
Among other effects, hydrogen rich water reverts about half of induced edema by the controlled cortical impact. It completely blocks the tau protein expression involved in neurodegenerative processes. It acts on neuroinflammation mediators as well as on gene expression of certain proteins, first inducing an increase in several cytokines and at the same time mitigating the increase on the 7th day, although it is paradoxical, it influences the brain recovery process rather than progression. Finally , hydrogen rich water preserves or increases ATP levels, deficient in cells after brain trauma, becoming as a new mechanism of action.