Suzuki Y, Sano M, Hayashida K, Ohsawa I, Ohta S, Fukuda K
Are the effects of alpha-glucosidase inhibitors on cardiovascular events related to elevated levels of hydrogen gas in the gastrointestinal tract? [JOURNAL ARTICLE]
FEBS Lett 2009 Jun 5.
The major side-effect of treatment with alpha-glucosidase inhibitors, flatulence, occurs when undigested carbohydrates are fermented by colonic bacteria, resulting in gas formation. We propose that the cardiovascular benefits of alpha-glucosidase inhibitors are partly attributable to their ability to neutralise oxidative stress via increased production of H(2)in the gastrointestinal tract. Acarbose, which is an alpha-glucosidase inhibitor, markedly increased H(2)production, with a weaker effect on methane production. Our hypothesis is based on our recent discovery that H(2)acts as a unique antioxidant, and that when inhaled or taken orally as H(2)-dissolved water it ameliorates ischaemia-reperfusion injury and atherosclerosis development.
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