Potential ghrelin-mediated benefits and risks of hydrogen water☆
Section snippets
Antioxidant and clinical potential of molecular hydrogen
A great deal of research has been conducted in the last few years, primarily in Japan, to evaluate the presumed antioxidant benefits of inhaled hydrogen gas and of water near-saturated with molecular hydrogen (up to 0.8 mM, or 1.6 ppm), administered parenterally or orally. This research is rooted in the discovery that H2 can act as an efficient scavenger of hydroxyl radicals and oppose the oxidizing activity of peroxynitrite [1], [2]. A great many intriguing findings in a wide range of
Physiological role of ghrelin
Ghrelin is a 28-amino acid peptide produced by proteolytic cleavage of its precursors pre-pro-ghrelin and pro-ghrelin; this occurs primarily in specialized cells within the gastric mucosa [13]. For ghrelin to express its characteristic hormonal activity, a post-translational modification involving conjugation of octanoic acid to Ser-3 of pro-ghrelin is required, mediated by the hormone ghrelin-O-acyltransferase (GOAT), which is coexpressed in ghrelin-producing cells. Ghrelin’s physiological
Ghrelin’s role in cognition and neuroprotection
Ghrelin plays a physiological role in promoting efficient cognition in the hippocampus and has a broad range of neuroprotective activities. Indeed, ghrelin may prove to be a key mediator of the neuroprotection associated with alternate-day fasting or daily calorie restriction. Within the hippocampus, ghrelin and ghrelin receptor agonists have been shown to bind to neurons and promote dendritic spine formation, enhancing long-term potentiation, spatial learning and memory [22], [38], [39], [40],
Ghrelin promotes vascular health
Ghrelin is also of notable interest for its vascular-protective effects [68], [69], [70], [71]. These appear to stem largely from the fact that ghrelin stimulates increased expression and increased activation of the nitric oxide synthase in endothelial cells and endothelial progenitor cells, an effect which may in part be attributable to activation of PI3K and AMPK in these cells [72], [73], [74], [75], [76]. Antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of ghrelin on vascular endothelium are
Ghrelin suppresses inflammation and autoimmunity
Ghrelin exerts certain anti-inflammatory effects, and may have potential for control of autoimmunity. Notably, ghrelin acts on monocytes and T lymphocytes to suppress their production of IL-1b, IL-6, INF-alpha – pro-inflammatory cytokines which can induce anorexia during infection and also often during cancer progression [100]. This effect evidently aids ghrelin fundamental “mission” of promoting eating – but it also helps to quell inflammation. Ghrelin also modifies the number and activities
Overview
This brief review suggests that a chronic up-regulation of ghrelin levels or activity has potential for preventing and controlling neurodegenerative disorders, promoting vascular health, ameliorating autoimmunity, and protecting the liver. Hence, ghrelin secretagogues or mimics may have a bright furture in preventive and therapeutic medicine. The ability of ghrelin activity to restore youthful patterns of GH secretion in older people may prove useful in the management of sarcopenia and in
Conflict of interest statement
The author has no conflicts of interest.
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Hydrogen-rich water as a modulator of gut microbiota?
2021, Journal of Functional FoodsCitation Excerpt :For instance, propionic acid and H2S are known to have many physiological functions that might be relevant for both intestinal and systemic immunomodulation, gene expression and cell signaling (Al-Lahham, Peppelenbosch, Roelofsen, Vonk, & Venema 2010; Blachier et al., 2010). This indirect effect might be accompanied by another possible impact of HRW that occurs after a proportion of exogenous H2 passes through the gut mucosa wall into the circulation and being transported to various organs; this by itself may produce effects relevant to the gut microbiota that are mediated by gastrin modulation (McCarty, 2015). Besides, hydrogen from HRW may also act as a signaling agent and alter gene expression of several gut-specific metabolic genes including proliferator-activated receptor-gamma coactivator-1alpha and fibroblast growth factor 21 (Kamimura, Ichimiya, Iuchi, & Ohta, 2016), and reactome pathways related to collagen biosynthesis and heat shock response (Nishiwaki et al., 2018).
Molecular hydrogen as a nutraceutical for extending the health span
2021, Functional Foods and Nutraceuticals in Metabolic and Non-communicable DiseasesPotential therapeutic effect of alkaline reduced water in polycystic ovarian syndrome
2017, Medical HypothesesCitation Excerpt :This active molecular hydrogen might be directly effective against the AMH-related hormonal imbalance as previously evidenced that molecular hydrogen can protect AMH-related ovulatory reserve function, which is essential to PCOS [34]. Further, molecular hydrogen in ARW would independently control ghrelin as previously documented [9,21]. These balancing effects of AMH and ghrelin might stabilize the levels of estrogen, luteinizing hormone (LH), and follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), consequently leading to ameliorating the hormonal storm incurred by PCOS [8].
Hydrogen Regulates Ulcerative Colitis by Affecting the Intestinal Redox Environment
2024, Journal of Inflammation Research
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