Oral intake of hydrogen-rich water inhibits intimal hyperplasia in arterialized vein grafts in rats
Sun Q, Kawamura T, Masutani K, Peng X, Sun Q, Stolz DB, Pribis JP, Billiar TR, Sun X, Bermudez CA, Toyoda Y, Nakao A. · Cardiovascular Research. 2012;94(1):144-153.
Study at a glance
Preclinical
Lewis-rat abdominal aortic vein graft recipients, plus rat aortic smooth-muscle cells and human umbilical-vein endothelial cells in culture.
Hydrogen-rich drinking water ad libitum immediately after vein grafting until tissue collection. · A magnesium stick generated 0.55-0.65 mmol/L H₂ water at pH 9.2-9.9, replaced every 24 hours. Separate culture medium contained 0.6 mmol/L H₂.
One or six weeks of drinking-water exposure after grafting; in-vitro assays through 24-72 hours.
H₂ water increased blood H₂ transiently, reduced six-week intimal hyperplasia and multiple injury/inflammatory/migration measures, and preserved the endothelial surface. H₂ medium suppressed smooth-muscle migration but did not affect proliferation through 72 hours; H₂ intake did not affect ERK1/2 phosphorylation.
Preclinical surgical model, outcome-specific small groups, ad-libitum intake not quantified per animal, pH differed from ordinary water, multiple mechanistic endpoints and no graft-patency clinical endpoint. Public/foundation/NIH support was reported; authors declared no conflicts.
What kind of evidence is this?
Preclinical
Randomized three-water rat vein-graft experiment with blood-H₂ kinetics and vascular-cell culture components
Cardiovascular and circulatory 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
Lewis-rat abdominal aortic vein graft recipients, plus rat aortic smooth-muscle cells and human umbilical-vein endothelial cells in culture.
Tissue outcomes used n=5 per drinking-water group at one week and approximately n=5-6 at six weeks; culture experiments were repeated at least three times. A single total animal count is not reported.
One or six weeks of drinking-water exposure after grafting; in-vitro assays through 24-72 hours.
Hydrogen-rich drinking water ad libitum immediately after vein grafting until tissue collection.
H₂ dissolved in drinking water — H₂ only, not Brown's gas.
A magnesium stick generated 0.55-0.65 mmol/L H₂ water at pH 9.2-9.9, replaced every 24 hours. Separate culture medium contained 0.6 mmol/L H₂.
Regular tap water and hydrogen water degassed for 48 hours, plus naive vein controls and ordinary culture medium.
Outcomes and reported result
Blood H₂ kinetics, intimal hyperplasia, macrophage/endothelial morphology, oxidative and inflammatory markers, MMP-2/9, smooth-muscle migration/proliferation and endothelial-cell injury.
H₂ water increased blood H₂ transiently, reduced six-week intimal hyperplasia and multiple injury/inflammatory/migration measures, and preserved the endothelial surface. H₂ medium suppressed smooth-muscle migration but did not affect proliferation through 72 hours; H₂ intake did not affect ERK1/2 phosphorylation.
The complete free PMC article was checked for water preparation/concentration, comparators, timing, outcome-specific sample sizes, animal and cell outcomes, positive and null findings, funding and conflict declaration.
A reported association, difference or mechanism is not automatically a clinical benefit.
Limitations and applicability
Preclinical surgical model, outcome-specific small groups, ad-libitum intake not quantified per animal, pH differed from ordinary water, multiple mechanistic endpoints and no graft-patency clinical endpoint. Public/foundation/NIH support was reported; authors declared no conflicts.
Arterialized vein grafts in rats and vascular cells; it does not establish prevention of human bypass-graft failure.
No single-study GRADE certainty rating is assigned. Read how records and evidence assessments are prepared.
Sources and record status
PMID: 22287575 · DOI: 10.1093/cvr/cvs024
Free full article in PubMed Central.
Complete PMC article and PubMed metadata; full-text extraction checked 9 August 2026.
10 August 2026
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