Hydrogen Therapy Review Shows Promise for Multiple Disease Treatment
- Authors
- Fatmanur Yildiz, Tyler W. LeBaron, Duried Alwazeer
- Journal
- Biochemistry and Biophysics Reports
- Year
- 2025
- DOI
- 10.1016/j.bbrep.2025.101933
- Study Type
- clinical
- Peer Reviewed
- Yes
- Country
- Turkey
- Health Condition
- Cardiovascular Disease
- Body System
- Cardiovascular
TL;DR
Scientists found that hydrogen gas might be a natural way to fight diseases by reducing harmful chemicals called "free radicals" that damage our bodies. This discovery is exciting because hydrogen could potentially help treat lots of different health problems—from heart disease to brain disorders—and people could get it by breathing it in, drinking special water, or taking it other ways.
Key Finding
Molecular hydrogen has selective antioxidant properties and demonstrates multiple biological effects including anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, and neuroprotective actions across various disease states.
Summary
This review article examined research on molecular hydrogen (H2)—a simple gas that may act as an antioxidant (a substance that reduces harmful chemical reactions in the body). The authors collected studies from the past two decades showing that H2 might help reduce oxidative stress (cellular damage from unstable molecules) and potentially benefit people with heart disease, breathing problems, weight issues, digestive disorders, and nervous system conditions. H2 can be delivered through breathing it in, drinking hydrogen-rich water, or other methods.
Practical Takeaway
While this review summarizes promising laboratory and early clinical research on hydrogen's potential therapeutic effects, it is a summary of existing studies rather than new research itself. Most evidence comes from animal studies and small human trials; larger, well-designed clinical studies are needed before hydrogen can be recommended as a treatment for specific diseases. Anyone considering hydrogen water or other H2 products should consult their healthcare provider, as the evidence base remains limited.
Abstract
Oxidative stress is responsible for the pathogenesis of many diseases, and antioxidants are commonly included in their treatment protocols. Over the past two decades, numerous biomedical reports have revealed the therapeutic benefits of molecular hydrogen (H2) in relieving oxidation-related diseases. H2 has been found to have selective antioxidant properties against the most dangerous oxidants (hydroxyl radicals and peroxynitrite). H2 demonstrates numerous biologically therapeutic properties, including anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anti-cancer, anti-stress, anti-apoptotic, anti-allergic effects, signaling molecule functions, regulation of redox balance, modulation of antioxidant enzyme gene expression, improvement of blood vessel function, down-regulation of pro-inflammatory cytokines, stimulation of energy metabolism, and protection of the nervous system. Experimental and clinical studies have shown the potential use of hydrogen nutrition therapy for ameliorating various diseases, including cardiovascular, respiratory, and metabolic disorders, as well as obesity, gastrointestinal disorders, and brain and nervous system disorders. The administration methods of hydrogen include inhalation, hydrogen-rich water, hydrogen-rich saline, hydrogen-rich eye drops, and hydrogen-rich bathing. Hydrogen nutritional therapy can be applied to different diseases, and it offers a natural alternative to chemical and radiation therapies. This review covers the different administration methods and the latest experimental and clinical research on the potential applications of H2 in nutritional therapy for different diseases.