Protective Effect of Hydrogen-rich Water against Gentamicin-induced Nephrotoxicity in Rats using Blood Oxygenation Level-dependent MR Imaging
Matsushita T, Kusakabe Y, Kitamura A, Okada S, Murase K. · Magnetic Resonance in Medical Sciences. 2011;10(3):169–176.
Study at a glance
Preclinical
Male Sprague-Dawley rats in a gentamicin nephrotoxicity model.
Gentamicin 80 mg/kg/day subcutaneously for 7 days; the intervention group drank hydrogen-rich water ad libitum from 200 mL pouches refreshed twice daily. · Hydrogen-rich water contained 1.2±0.1 mg/L dissolved H₂; standard water contained 0.06±0.01 mg/L.
7 days; MRI on days 0, 2, 4 and 7, with renal collection on day 7.
Cortical R2* decreased after gentamicin on days 2, 4 and 7, but not in the control or hydrogen-rich-water groups. Creatinine and BUN were higher with gentamicin; creatinine only tended to be lower with hydrogen-rich water.
Small preclinical study. Serum creatinine showed a non-significant tendency rather than a confirmed treatment effect; animal findings do not establish benefit in people.
What kind of evidence is this?
Preclinical
Controlled rat study
Kidney and urinary health
H₂-rich water
Information not yet classified
Some editorial classification fields are still pending. The source-reported outcomes and result are shown below; Hydrogenology does not infer a positive or negative signal from prose automatically.
Methods
Male Sprague-Dawley rats in a gentamicin nephrotoxicity model.
21 rats randomized to control, gentamicin with standard water, or gentamicin with hydrogen-rich water; n=7 per group.
7 days; MRI on days 0, 2, 4 and 7, with renal collection on day 7.
Gentamicin 80 mg/kg/day subcutaneously for 7 days; the intervention group drank hydrogen-rich water ad libitum from 200 mL pouches refreshed twice daily.
H₂ dissolved in drinking water — H₂ only, not Brown's gas.
Hydrogen-rich water contained 1.2±0.1 mg/L dissolved H₂; standard water contained 0.06±0.01 mg/L.
Untreated control and gentamicin plus standard-water groups.
Outcomes and reported result
Renal cortical and medullary R2*, serum creatinine, blood urea nitrogen and histopathology.
Cortical R2* decreased after gentamicin on days 2, 4 and 7, but not in the control or hydrogen-rich-water groups. Creatinine and BUN were higher with gentamicin; creatinine only tended to be lower with hydrogen-rich water.
The free full article, tables and methods were checked; both significant and non-significant findings are represented.
A reported association, difference or mechanism is not automatically a clinical benefit.
Limitations and applicability
Small preclinical study. Serum creatinine showed a non-significant tendency rather than a confirmed treatment effect; animal findings do not establish benefit in people.
Gentamicin nephrotoxicity in rats only.
No single-study GRADE certainty rating is assigned. Read how records and evidence assessments are prepared.
Sources and record status
PMID: 21959999 · DOI: 10.2463/mrms.10.169
Free full article on J-STAGE.
J-STAGE publisher full article and PubMed record; full-text extraction checked 8 August 2026.
10 August 2026
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