台灣氫水實驗室

Are the effects of 

Yoshihiko Suzuki ^a, Motoaki Sano ^c, , , Kentaro Hayashida ^c, Ikuroh Ohsawa ^a, b, Shigeo Ohta^aand Keiichi Fukuda^c

^a Department of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Institute of Development and Aging Science, Graduate School of Medicine, Nippon Medical School, Kawasaki City 211-8533, Japan

^b The Center of Molecular Hydrogen Medicine, Institute of Development and Aging Science, Graduate School of Medicine, Nippon Medical School, Kawasaki City 211-8533, Japan

^c Department of Regenerative Medicine and Advanced Cardiac Therapeutics, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo 160-8582, Japan

Received 20 April 2009; 

revised 28 May 2009; 

accepted 31 May 2009. 

Available online 8 June 2009. 

α -glucosidase inhibitors on cardiovascular events related to elevated levels of hydrogen gas in the gastrointestinal tract?

Abstract

The major side-effect of treatment with α -glucosidase inhibitors, flatulence, occurs when undigested carbohydrates are fermented by colonic bacteria, resulting in gas formation. We propose that the cardiovascular benefits of α -glucosidase inhibitors are partly attributable to their ability to neutralise oxidative stress via increased production of H ₂in the gastrointestinal tract. Acarbose, which is an α -glucosidase inhibitor, markedly increased H ₂production, with a weaker effect on methane production. Our hypothesis is based on our recent discovery that H ₂acts as a unique antioxidant, and that when inhaled or taken orally as H ₂-dissolved water it ameliorates ischaemia–reperfusion injury and atherosclerosis development.

Keywords: α -Glucosidase inhibitors; Type 2 diabetes; Hydrogen gas; Antioxidant

Article Outline

1. Introduction

2. Molecular hydrogen (H ₂) acts as a novel antioxidant

3. Unexpected benefit of flatulence caused by α -glucosidase inhibitors

4. Conclusion

Conflict of interest statement

Acknowledgements

References