title: Are the effects of alpha-glucosidase inhibitors on cardiovascular events related to elevated levels of hydrogen gas in the gastrointestinal tract?
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Institute of Development and Aging Science, Graduate School of Medicine, Nippon Medical School, Kawasaki City, Japan.
authors.forename: Yoshihiko
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Suzuki
authors.forename: Motoaki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sano
authors.forename: Kentaro
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hayashida
authors.forename: Ikuroh
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Ohsawa
authors.forename: Shigeo
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ohta
authors.forename: Keiichi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Fukuda
mesh_terms: D020909:Acarbose / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D005414:Flatulence / Q000139:chemically induced; D041981:Gastrointestinal Tract / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism*; D065089:Glycoside Hydrolase Inhibitors; D006801:Humans; D006859:Hydrogen / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D009206:Myocardium / Q000378:metabolism; D000520:alpha-Glucosidases / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D001786:Blood Glucose; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D065089:Glycoside Hydrolase Inhibitors; D006859:Hydrogen; D000520:alpha-Glucosidases; D020909:Acarbose