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

Suzuki, Yoshihiko; Sano, Motoaki; Hayashida, Kentaro; Ohsawa, Ikuroh; Ohta, Shigeo; Fukuda, Keiichi

doi:10.1016/j.febslet.2009.05.052

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Volume 583, Issue 13 , Pages 2157-2159, 7 July 2009

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

Edited by Quan Chen

Yoshihiko Suzuki
- Department of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Institute of Development and Aging Science, Graduate School of Medicine, Nippon Medical School, Kawasaki City 211-8533, Japan
Motoaki Sano
- Department of Regenerative Medicine and Advanced Cardiac Therapeutics, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo 160-8582, Japan
- Corresponding author. Address: Department of Regenerative Medicine and Advanced Cardiac Therapeutics, Keio University School of Medicine, 35 Shinanomachi Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 160-8582, Japan. Fax: +81 3 5363 3875.
Kentaro Hayashida
- Department of Regenerative Medicine and Advanced Cardiac Therapeutics, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo 160-8582, Japan
Ikuroh Ohsawa
- Department of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Institute of Development and Aging Science, Graduate School of Medicine, Nippon Medical School, Kawasaki City 211-8533, Japan
- The Center of Molecular Hydrogen Medicine, Institute of Development and Aging Science, Graduate School of Medicine, Nippon Medical School, Kawasaki City 211-8533, Japan
Shigeo Ohta
- Department of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Institute of Development and Aging Science, Graduate School of Medicine, Nippon Medical School, Kawasaki City 211-8533, Japan
Keiichi Fukuda
- Department of Regenerative Medicine and Advanced Cardiac Therapeutics, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo 160-8582, Japan

Received 20 April 2009; received in revised form 28 May 2009; accepted 31 May 2009. published online 08 June 2009.

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 H₂ in the gastrointestinal tract. Acarbose, which is an α-glucosidase inhibitor, markedly increased H₂ production, with a weaker effect on methane production. Our hypothesis is based on our recent discovery that H₂ acts as a unique antioxidant, and that when inhaled or taken orally as H₂-dissolved water it ameliorates ischaemia–reperfusion injury and atherosclerosis development.

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