The Challenge of Preterm Birth
Every year, millions of babies are born too early. Preterm birth defined as delivery before 37 weeks of pregnancy is a leading cause of newborn health issues and a major concern worldwide.
One common cause of early labor is inflammation inside the uterus, often triggered by:
- Infection
- Stress
- Weakened maternal immune tolerance
- Physical or hormonal changes
Scientists are constantly searching for safe and effective ways to calm this inflammation and help babies stay in the womb longer.
What is Molecuar Hydrogen?
You may know hydrogen as a light gas, but in medical research, molecular hydrogen (H₂) has gained attention for its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.
Think of it as a gentle peacekeeper inside the body. It helps reduce harmful inflammation and neutralizes damaging molecules without interfering with normal cell functions. Researchers have been studying its benefits in conditions from arthritis to brain injury. Now, they’re asking: Could it also help prevent preterm birth?
What Did the Researchers Do?
To find out, researchers in Japan and China conducted an experiment on pregnant mice. They divided them into three groups:
- Control Group: Received a harmless saltwater solution.
- LPS Group: Received a substance that causes inflammation, mimicking infection and triggering early labor.
- HW + LPS Group: Drank hydrogen water for 24 hours before receiving the inflammation trigger.
They then measured how long it took for the mice to give birth, along with hormone levels and markers of inflammation in the uterus.
What Did the Study Find?
✅ Pregnancy Was Extended
- Mice that drank hydrogen water before inflammation delivered about 15 hours later than those that did not.
- HW + LPS Group: ~33.5 hours until birth
- LPS Group: ~18.3 hours until birth
- This delay could be crucial in helping a baby’s lungs and brain mature.
✅ Progesterone Levels Were Higher
- Progesterone is a hormone that helps maintain pregnancy.
- The hydrogen water group had significantly higher progesterone levels, supporting a healthier pregnancy environment.
✅ Inflammation in Uterus Was Reduced
- Hydrogen water lowered key inflammation signals in the uterus, such as TNF and IL-6.
- This shows H₂ can help calm an overactive inflammatory response.
✅ Labor-Triggering Proteins Were Suppressed
- Proteins that tell the uterus to contract, such as Cox-2, Cx-43, and oxytocin receptors were significantly reduced.
- This means hydrogen water helped slow down the process that starts labor.
Is Hydrogen Water a Cure for Preterm Birth?
Not exactly. While the results are promising, hydrogen water did not completely prevent preterm birth.
- 60% of the treated mice still delivered early (though better than 90% in the untreated group).
- Some labor-related processes, like cervical remodeling, were not fully stopped.
This suggests that hydrogen water may be more useful as a supportive treatment.
What Does This Mean for the Future?
This study is an important first step. It shows that hydrogen water can reduce inflammation and delay early labour in an experimental setting.
In summary, hydrogen water may one day become part of a strategy to help at-risk pregnancies last longer.
Reference
Nakano, T., Kotani, T., Imai, K., Iitani, Y., Ushida, T., Tsuda, H. … Kikkawa, F. (2018). Effect of molecular hydrogen on uterine inflammation during preterm labour. Biomedical Reports, 8, 454-460. https://doi.org/10.3892/br.2018.1082
Soyoshi Hydrogen Water Generator
The journey to good health is not a sprint, it’s a marathon. Pace yourself, and enjoy the ride. You can now maximize the amount of hydrogen in your Soyoshi Hydrogen Water Generator and enjoy hydrogen water every day!
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SOYOSHI
- 10 years R&D by 7 scientists
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