Effects of hydrogen-rich water on depressive-like behavior in mice
Zhang Y et al. · Sci Rep. 2016;6:23742.
Study at a glance
Preclinical
Mice exposed or not exposed to four weeks of chronic unpredictable mild stress
0.8 ppm hydrogen-rich drinking water; bottles were refilled with 30 mL twice daily and average intake was 4 mL/mouse/day · 0.8 ppm dissolved H₂.
Four weeks
The article reports prevention of stress-associated behavioral changes and attenuation of IL-1β, caspase-1 and ROS changes. H₂ water did not significantly change the measured behaviors in non-stressed controls.
Mouse stress model with behavioral proxies, multiple brain assays and no human participants. It does not establish antidepressant efficacy in people.
What kind of evidence is this?
Preclinical
Randomly allocated controlled chronic-unpredictable-mild-stress mouse experiment
Sleep and mood research
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
Mice exposed or not exposed to four weeks of chronic unpredictable mild stress
Behavioral cohorts included 10–11 mice per group; tissue assays commonly used n=5 per group
Four weeks
0.8 ppm hydrogen-rich drinking water; bottles were refilled with 30 mL twice daily and average intake was 4 mL/mouse/day
H₂ dissolved in drinking water — H₂ only, not Brown’s gas and not inhalation.
0.8 ppm dissolved H₂.
Stressed and non-stressed mice receiving ordinary water
Outcomes and reported result
Body weight, sucrose preference, tail-suspension behavior, IL-1β, caspase-1 activity and reactive oxygen species in brain regions
The article reports prevention of stress-associated behavioral changes and attenuation of IL-1β, caspase-1 and ROS changes. H₂ water did not significantly change the measured behaviors in non-stressed controls.
The complete open-access article was checked for bibliographic identity, allocation, concentration, intake, behavioral and molecular outcomes, funding and conflicts.
A reported association, difference or mechanism is not automatically a clinical benefit.
Limitations and applicability
Mouse stress model with behavioral proxies, multiple brain assays and no human participants. It does not establish antidepressant efficacy in people.
Chronic-unpredictable-mild-stress model in mice, not major depressive disorder in humans.
No single-study GRADE certainty rating is assigned. Read how records and evidence assessments are prepared.
Sources and record status
PMID: 27026206 · DOI: 10.1038/srep23742
Open-access full text is available from Scientific Reports and PMC.
Open-access publisher/PMC full text and PubMed record.
10 August 2026
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