Antioxidant properties of electrolyzed reduced water and hydrogen

Abstract

Oxidative damage is defined as the bimolecular damage caused by the attack of reactive species upon the constituents of living organisms. This damage is associated to many degenerative diseases such as Alzheimer, cancer, diabetes, atherosclerosis and damage by ischemia and reperfusion. In this context the use of antioxidants may be useful to prevent the damage induced by oxidative damage. It has been shown that electrolyzed reduced water (ERW) ameliorates oxidant stress and the damage induced in several experimental models (e.g. diabetes and hepatic damage) and in patients under hemodialysis. ERW is characterized by high concentrations of dissolved hydrogen, low concentrations of oxygen, alkaline pH and a negative redox potential. ERW is able to scavenge the following reactive species: hydrogen peroxide, hypochlorous acid, superoxide anion, and hydroxyl radical. It has postulated that the antioxidant properties of ERW are due to the hydrogen dissolve in it. In fact, it has been shown the antioxidant and cytoprotective properties of hydrogen gas or dissolved in aqueous solutions in several experimental models (e.g. Alzheimer, Parkinson, hypersensitivity reactions, transplant rejection, and damage to liver, intestine, lung, heart, and neurons) and in patients with diabetes and metabolic syndrome. It has been found In in vitro and in cell culture studies that hydrogen selectively scavenges hydroxyl radical and peroxynitrite anion, which are among the most cytotoxic reactive species. The data suggest that hydrogen may be considered as another gas with therapeutic potential.