Effect of Hydrogen-rich Water on Chronic Kappa-carrageenan-induced Colitis in Weaned Female Swiss Albino Mice: A Preliminary Study

INTRODUCTION: Food additives such as carrageenan, which are widely present in processed foods, can aggravate intestinal inflammation, particularly during the weaning period, a stage of high gut vulnerability. Weaned mice provide a relevant model to study how early dietary exposures influence intestinal health. This preliminary study explores the potential applicability of Hydrogen-rich Water (HRW), a non-pharmacological approach with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, as an early-stage and potentially patentable supportive strategy against carrageenan-induced colitis. METHODS: Weaned female Swiss albino mice were assigned to four groups: normal control, UC, HRW, and diclofenac. Except for controls, all groups were exposed to kappa-carrageenan in drinking water for three months to induce chronic colitis, followed by a two-week treatment with HRW or diclofenac. Clinical signs, colon length, histopathology, cytokine expression, and gut microbiota composition were analyzed. RESULTS: Carrageenan exposure in weaned mice caused significant colitis, evidenced by body weight loss, an increase in disease activity index, colon shortening, and severe inflammatory lesions. Pro-inflammatory cytokines TNF-α, IL1β, and IL6 were significantly upregulated with a concomitant decrease in IL10. HRW treatment significantly attenuated disease severity by reducing disease activity index, preserving colon length, decreasing pro-inflammatory cytokines, and partially restoring IL10 expression. However, HRW had limited effects on the relative abundance of beneficial gut microbes such as Bifidobacterium spp. and Akkermansia spp. DISCUSSION: These preliminary findings support existing evidence that early-life exposure to food additives disrupts immune regulation in the immature gut. The protective effects of HRW appear to be mainly host-mediated, suggesting an innovative but early-stage immunomodulatory mechanism rather than a microbiota-driven effect. CONCLUSION: Overall, this exploratory proof-of-concept study suggests that HRW may represent a promising and potentially patentable supportive approach for reducing diet-induced intestinal inflammation during weaning. Further validation is required before any translational or industrial application can be considered.