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Research has shown that hydrogen water can promote the healing of osteoporotic fractures. This is an animal experimental study from the Orthopedics Department of the Third Affiliated Hospital of Hebei Medical University, published in Front Endocrinol?。

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Osteoporosis (OP) is a common disease characterized by bone loss and deterioration of bone microstructure. Osteoporosis patients are more prone to fractures, and non union of osteoporotic fractures is a common complication that may bring a heavy burden to the patient's family. The treatment of osteoporotic fractures is difficult, and it is crucial to take proactive preventive measures as early as possible to minimize their negative effects or poor functional recovery. In addition to anti osteoporosis drugs and widely used autologous bone transplantation in clinical practice, other natural molecules have also been reported to have potential applications in animal models.

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Hydrogen molecules have a small volume, are non-toxic, electrically neutral, and non-polar. They can freely diffuse through all cell membranes, such as the blood-brain barrier and placental barrier. In the past decade, comprehensive research has been conducted on molecular hydrogen, which has aroused great interest due to its antioxidant, anti apoptotic, and anti-inflammatory properties. Hydrogen has anti-inflammatory effects and can selectively react with hydroxyl radicals, effectively targeting intracellular inflammatory factors. Since the excellent therapeutic effect of hydrogen in rat cerebral infarction models was first confirmed, increasing evidence suggests that many diseases can be improved through hydrogen therapy. In previous studies, it was found that in streptozotocin induced diabetes rats, bone structure changed due to the increased level of oxidative stress. Hydrogen water (HRW) can maintain bone volume and reduce fracture risk. However, under high oxidative stress conditions, the specific mechanism of hydrogen therapy efficacy needs further research.

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Autophagy is a self phagocytic process in which a double membrane autophagosome engulfs cytoplasmic substances and intracellular organelles. In recent years, the relationship between oxidative stress and autophagy has been recognized, and it is widely believed that ROS can induce autophagy, thereby reducing the damage caused by oxidative stress to the body. In recent years, there has been an increasing amount of research on the relationship between hydrogen and autophagy. However, the role of hydrogen in autophagy remains controversial, despite its ability to reduce oxidative stress levels. There are studies indicating that hydrogen water can downregulate autophagy, but there are also studies indicating that hydrogen can induce autophagy. In addition, although menopausal OP is more common than diabetes OP, there is no research on the mechanism of hydrogen water on menopausal OP at present. This study aims to explore the effect of hydrogen water on the healing of postmenopausal osteoporotic fractures and its regulatory effect on autophagy, revealing the potential mechanism of hydrogen water's impact on osteoporotic fractures.

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Guo J, Tian S, Wang Z, Wang Y, Zhang X, Zhang Y, Hou Z, Dong W. Hydrogen saline water accelerates fracture healing by suppressing autophagy in ovariectomized rats. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne). 2022 Sep 2;13:962303. doi: 10.3389/fendo.2022.962303.

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The treatment of osteoporotic fractures is difficult. In order to minimize negative outcomes or poor functional recovery, this study focuses on the impact of hydrogen water on the healing process of postmenopausal osteoporotic fractures and its relationship with autophagy, attempting to reveal the potential mechanism of hydrogen water on osteoporotic fractures.

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Establish a rat osteoporotic fracture model and systematically apply hydrogen water in combination or without 3MA. Analyze the results through X-ray, micro CT scanning, serum biomarker analysis, biomechanical testing, histopathology, immunohistochemistry, and Western blot. Divided into sham surgery group, OVX group, OH (OVX+hydrogen water) group, and OHA (OVX+hydrogen water+3MA) group.

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Oxidative stress and elevated levels of autophagy are necessary physiological responses during the process of fracture healing. We found that hydrogen water systemic therapy mildly inhibits autophagy, and then activates the Keap1-Nrf2 signaling pathway by maintaining the interaction between Keap1-Nrf2 and p62, improving the healing process of osteoporotic fractures.

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Hydrogen water therapy antagonizes cellular stress by inhibiting autophagy levels and activating the Keap1-Nrf2 signaling pathway, especially in the early stages of fracture healing, which is beneficial for the healing of osteoporotic fractures in rats.