ORIGINAL ARTICLE   

Gazzetta Medica Italiana - Archivio per le Scienze Mediche 2019 September;178(9):611-7

DOI: 10.23736/S0393-3660.18.03912-8

Copyright © 2018 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

language: English

Hydrogen water intake may suppress liver glycogen utilization without affecting redox biomarkers during exercise in rats

Takuji KAWAMURA ¹ ✉, Ryosuke FUJII ², Kazuhiko HIGASHIDA ³, Isao MURAOKA ¹

¹ Faculty of Sport Sciences, Waseda University, Tokorozawa, Saitama, Japan; ² Graduate School of Sport Sciences, Waseda University, Tokorozawa, Saitama, Japan; ³ Department of Food Science and Nutrition, University of Shiga Prefecture, Hikone, Shiga, Japan

BACKGROUND: Studies have revealed that molecular hydrogen (H2) exhibits therapeutic effects against various diseases through biological activities such as antioxidation. However, little is known about the effects of H2 on redox biomarkers and related indicators during exercise. Therefore, we examined whether 2 weeks of H2 water intake could affect the redox biomarkers, energy metabolism, and performance level of rats during endurance exercise.
METHODS: Male Sprague-Dawley rats (N.=32) were randomly divided into four groups: control (C), control-exercise (C-Ex), H2 water (H2), and H2 water-exercise (H2-Ex). Each group was given mineral water (C and C-Ex) or H2 water (H2 and H2-Ex) ad libitum for 2 weeks. Then the C-Ex and H2-Ex groups were subjected to an exercise performance test. Blood, skeletal muscle, and liver samples were analysed for redox biomarkers, blood energy substrates, and tissue glycogen contents.
RESULTS: Two-way ANOVA revealed that H2 water intake did not affect redox biomarkers (thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances, protein carbonyl, and total antioxidant capacity), blood energy substrates (lactate, glucose, free fatty acid, and triglyceride), and muscle glycogen content. However, liver glycogen content was significantly higher in the H2-Ex group than in the C-Ex group (P < 0.01).
CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that 2 weeks of H2 water intake did not affect redox biomarkers, blood energy substrates, muscle glycogen content, and performance level during endurance exercise: however, it may slightly suppress liver glycogen utilization during exercise.

KEY WORDS: Oxidation-reduction; Biomarkers; Glycogen; Physical endurance; Athletic performance; Rats