Hydrogen-rich water attenuates radiation-induced oral mucositis in mice via antioxidant and gut microbiota-stabilizing effects: a longitudinal study

TL;DR

Hydrogen-rich water helps reduce mouth and gut damage in mice undergoing head and neck radiation by reducing inflammation and stabilizing gut bacteria.

Contribution

This study reveals hydrogen-rich water's novel role in mitigating radiation-induced oral mucositis via gut microbiota and antioxidant effects.

Findings

Hydrogen-rich water reduced oral lesions and preserved mucosal thickness in irradiated mice.

HW restored tight junction proteins in the colon and reversed gut microbiota shifts caused by radiation.

Microbial stabilization correlated with reduced oral inflammation in irradiated mice.

Abstract

Radiation-induced oral mucositis (RIOM) frequently complicates head and neck radiotherapy, leading to severe pain, compromised nutrition, and often requiring treatment modifications. Although craniofacial-only irradiation is confined to the head and neck region, it can still disrupt gut homeostasis. Mice subjected to head and neck irradiation developed marked epithelial damage in both the oral and intestinal mucosa, as evidenced by pronounced RIOM and diminished barrier integrity. Histological examination revealed substantial mucosal thinning and leukocyte infiltration in the tongue, along with reduced occludin and ZO-1 expression in colonic tissues. Supplementation with hydrogen-rich water (HW) markedly decreased the severity of oral lesions and preserved epithelial thickness, while restoring the expression of tight junction proteins in the colon. Fecal 16S rRNA sequencing showed that radiation alone provoked expansions of Streptococcus and Helicobacter, coupled with a decline in short-chain fatty acid–producing families (Lachnospiraceae, Ruminococcaceae). In contrast, HW supplementation partially reversed these microbial shifts, which correlated with reduced oral inflammatory markers. Collectively, these findings underscore an oral–gut axis whereby HW fosters mucosal healing through microbiome stabilization and decreased inflammatory stress, suggesting that HW as a promising adjunct for managing head and neck irradiation–related complications.

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