Hydrogen Therapy for Pain?

PainExam Podcast Episode: An In-Depth Look at Hydrogen-Rich Water for Chronic Inflammatory Pain

In a recent episode of the PainExam podcast, Dr. David Rosenblum delves into an intriguing study published in the journal Antioxidants, exploring the therapeutic potential of hydrogen-rich water (HRW) in alleviating chronic inflammatory pain and associated mood disorders in mice. The study, conducted by Santiago Coral-Pérez and colleagues from the Institut d’Investigació Biomèdica Sant Pau and Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, presents compelling evidence supporting the analgesic, antidepressant, and anxiolytic effects of HRW.

Study Overview

The study investigates the efficacy of HRW in treating nociceptive responses and affective disorders associated with chronic inflammatory pain. Using a mouse model induced by the subplantar injection of complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA), the researchers evaluated the impact of HRW on several parameters:

1. Nociceptive Responses: Mechanical allodynia and thermal hyperalgesia.
2. Affective Disorders: Depressive-like behaviors (measured by Tail Suspension Test and Forced Swimming Test) and anxiety-like behaviors (assessed using Elevated Plus Maze and Open Field tests).
3. Biomarker Analysis: Levels of oxidative stress, inflammatory, and apoptotic markers in the paws and amygdala.

Key Findings

1. Analgesic Effects:

• Mechanical Allodynia and Thermal Hyperalgesia: The study found that both intraperitoneal and subplantar administration of HRW significantly reduced mechanical allodynia and thermal hyperalgesia in CFA-injected mice. Remarkably, the local (subplantar) administration showed greater effectiveness, achieving complete inhibition of nociceptive responses with just one day of treatment.

2. Antidepressant and Anxiolytic Effects:

• Depressive-like Behaviors: HRW treatment normalized the increased immobility times in both the Tail Suspension Test and Forced Swimming Test, indicating potent antidepressant properties.
• Anxiety-like Behaviors: HRW also reversed the anxiety-like behaviors in the Elevated Plus Maze and Open Field tests, showcasing its anxiolytic effects without impairing motor function.

3. Biochemical Pathways:

• The study highlighted the significant role of the Nrf2/HO-1-NQO1 pathway in mediating the analgesic effects of HRW. Inhibitors targeting this pathway reversed the pain-relieving actions of HRW, underscoring its pivotal role.
• Oxidative Stress and Inflammation: HRW treatment reduced the expression of oxidative (4-HNE), inflammatory (p-IKBα), and apoptotic (BAX) markers in both the paw and amygdala tissues, demonstrating its broad-spectrum protective effects.

Implications for Clinical Practice

Dr. Rosenblum emphasizes the potential of HRW as a novel therapeutic strategy for chronic inflammatory pain and its associated comorbidities. The study's findings suggest that HRW could offer a multifaceted approach, addressing both pain and mood disorders through its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-apoptotic properties.

Conclusion

The episode concludes with a discussion on the broader implications of these findings for pain management, particularly in conditions where chronic inflammatory pain is prevalent. Dr. Rosenblum highlights the need for further clinical trials to validate these promising preclinical results and explore the potential of HRW in human subjects.

For more detailed insights into this study, including potential applications and future research directions, tune into the PainExam podcast with Dr. David Rosenblum.

For more information go to:

https://molecularhydrogeninstitute.org/links-mhi/

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References

Coral-Pérez, S., Martínez-Martel, I., Martínez-Serrat, M., Batallé, G., Bai, X., Leite-Panissi, C. R., & Pol, O. (2022). Treatment with hydrogen-rich water improves the nociceptive and anxio-depressive-like behaviors associated with chronic inflammatory pain in mice. Antioxidants, 11(11), 2153.