Effects of hydrogen-rich water on aging periodontal tissues in rats
Tomofuji T et al. · Sci Rep. 2014;4:5534.
Study at a glance
Preclinical
Four-month-old male Fischer 344 rats followed until 16 months of age
Hydrogen-rich drinking water available throughout the 12-month experiment · >500 μg/L at 1 hour after electrolysis and >400 μg/L after 24 hours in a glass vessel.
From age 4 months to age 16 months
The article reports lower periodontal oxidative damage and some bone and osteoclast measures. IL-1β protein did not differ, and NLRP3-related gene expression was higher rather than lower in the H₂ group.
Only 12 healthy rats, very long exposure, multiple tissue endpoints and no clinical periodontal symptoms.
What kind of evidence is this?
Preclinical
Controlled 12-month drinking-water experiment in healthy aging rats
Oral and dental 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
Four-month-old male Fischer 344 rats followed until 16 months of age
12 rats randomized to two groups of six
From age 4 months to age 16 months
Hydrogen-rich drinking water available throughout the 12-month experiment
H₂ dissolved in drinking water — H₂ only, not Brown’s gas and not inhalation.
>500 μg/L at 1 hour after electrolysis and >400 μg/L after 24 hours in a glass vessel.
Distilled drinking water
Outcomes and reported result
Periodontal and serum 8-OHdG, bone loss and density, osteoclasts, IL-1β and NLRP3-related gene expression
The article reports lower periodontal oxidative damage and some bone and osteoclast measures. IL-1β protein did not differ, and NLRP3-related gene expression was higher rather than lower in the H₂ group.
Allocation, concentration stability, duration, histology, positive and null results, funding and conflicts checked in the open-access full text.
A reported association, difference or mechanism is not automatically a clinical benefit.
Limitations and applicability
Only 12 healthy rats, very long exposure, multiple tissue endpoints and no clinical periodontal symptoms.
Periodontal aging in healthy rats, not prevention or treatment of human periodontal disease.
No single-study GRADE certainty rating is assigned. Read how records and evidence assessments are prepared.
Sources and record status
PMID: 24985521 · DOI: 10.1038/srep05534
Open-access full text is available through PMC and Scientific Reports.
Open-access PMC/publisher full text and PubMed record; no retraction or expression of concern was shown in the checked records on 7 August 2026.
10 August 2026
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