Hydrogen-rich water ameliorates rat placental stress induced by water restriction
Shi YZ, Jin S, Qin H, Jiang HB, Song GH, Qin SC. · Med Gas Res. 2018;8(3):79–84.
Study at a glance
Preclinical
Pregnant Wistar rats exposed to restricted water access
Hydrogen-rich water twice daily on days 1–6, followed by one hour/day access during gestational days 7–17 · 500–800 µg/L dissolved H₂.
Gestational days 1–17 under the reported drinking protocol
Several placental histology and biomarker findings improved with H₂ water, but fetal weight and crown-rump length remained lower than unrestricted controls and fetal weight did not differ significantly from ordinary-water restriction.
Animal pregnancy model with an unusual restricted-drinking protocol and biomarker-heavy outcomes. It cannot establish safety or benefit during human pregnancy.
What kind of evidence is this?
Preclinical
Controlled three-group pregnancy experiment
Women’s 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
Pregnant Wistar rats exposed to restricted water access
36 pregnant rats; control n=12, water-restriction n=12 and H₂-water n=12
Gestational days 1–17 under the reported drinking protocol
Hydrogen-rich water twice daily on days 1–6, followed by one hour/day access during gestational days 7–17
H₂ dissolved in drinking water — H₂ only, not Brown’s gas.
500–800 µg/L dissolved H₂.
Unrestricted control and water-restricted group receiving ordinary water
Outcomes and reported result
Fetal and placental measurements, serum osmolality and oxidative stress, placental histology and inflammatory or oxidative-stress biomarkers
Several placental histology and biomarker findings improved with H₂ water, but fetal weight and crown-rump length remained lower than unrestricted controls and fetal weight did not differ significantly from ordinary-water restriction.
Full methods and principal positive and null findings checked in the free full text; independent appraisal remains incomplete.
A reported association, difference or mechanism is not automatically a clinical benefit.
Limitations and applicability
Animal pregnancy model with an unusual restricted-drinking protocol and biomarker-heavy outcomes. It cannot establish safety or benefit during human pregnancy.
Pregnant rats under water restriction; not pregnant people.
No single-study GRADE certainty rating is assigned. Read how records and evidence assessments are prepared.
Sources and record status
PMID: 30319761 · DOI: 10.4103/2045-9912.241064
Open-access full text is available through PMC.
Open-access PMC full text and PubMed bibliographic record.
10 August 2026
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