Radio-protective effect of hydrogen rich water combined with amifostine in mice
Qin X, Yin J, Li J, Qin A, Wen J, Niu QL. · International Journal of Radiation Research. 2016;14(2):113–118.
Study at a glance
Preclinical
Male ICR mice exposed to 9.0 Gy whole-body irradiation.
Hydrogen-rich water 20 mL/kg by intragastric administration 30 minutes before irradiation; combination group also received amifostine 400 mg/kg intraperitoneally. · Water was prepared under 0.4 MPa hydrogen overnight and contained more than 0.5 mmol/L H₂.
Single pretreatment 30 minutes before irradiation; survival followed for 30 days.
Thirty-day survival was 50% after irradiation, 70% with amifostine, 80% with hydrogen-rich water and 100% with the combination. Only the combined group differed significantly from irradiation alone; the single-agent comparisons were not significant.
Preclinical radiation model. The apparent survival difference for hydrogen-rich water alone was not statistically significant; the study does not establish radioprotection in people.
What kind of evidence is this?
Preclinical
Controlled mouse irradiation study
Cancer 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
Male ICR mice exposed to 9.0 Gy whole-body irradiation.
48 mice: control n=8; irradiation, amifostine plus irradiation, hydrogen-rich water plus irradiation, and combined treatment groups n=10 each.
Single pretreatment 30 minutes before irradiation; survival followed for 30 days.
Hydrogen-rich water 20 mL/kg by intragastric administration 30 minutes before irradiation; combination group also received amifostine 400 mg/kg intraperitoneally.
H₂ dissolved in water — H₂ only, not Brown's gas.
Water was prepared under 0.4 MPa hydrogen overnight and contained more than 0.5 mmol/L H₂.
Irradiation alone, amifostine alone plus irradiation, hydrogen-rich water alone plus irradiation, and non-irradiated control.
Outcomes and reported result
30-day survival and radiation-related mortality.
Thirty-day survival was 50% after irradiation, 70% with amifostine, 80% with hydrogen-rich water and 100% with the combination. Only the combined group differed significantly from irradiation alone; the single-agent comparisons were not significant.
The free full article, methods, survival figure and null single-agent comparisons were checked.
A reported association, difference or mechanism is not automatically a clinical benefit.
Limitations and applicability
Preclinical radiation model. The apparent survival difference for hydrogen-rich water alone was not statistically significant; the study does not establish radioprotection in people.
Whole-body irradiation in male ICR mice only.
No single-study GRADE certainty rating is assigned. Read how records and evidence assessments are prepared.
Sources and record status
OpenAlex ID: W2514157330 · DOI: 10.18869/acadpub.ijrr.14.2.113
Free journal PDF.
Journal full article; full-text extraction checked 8 August 2026.
10 August 2026
Help people check the facts before they buy.
Hydrogenology keeps 665 source-checked records accessible without advertising or product promotion.
Help us correct the recordReport a discrepancy
Send the exact difference between this page and the linked source. The study reference is attached automatically.