Hydrogen Water Dialysis Reduces Inflammation and Blood Pressure
A novel bioactive haemodialysis system using dissolved dihydrogen (H2) produced by water electrolysis: a clinical trial
Research hubs: Cardiovascular System
- Evidence type
- Uncontrolled trial (single-arm or pilot) · Human study
- Authors
- M. Nakayama, H. Nakano, H. Hamada, N. Itami, R. Nakazawa, S. Ito
- Journal
- Nephrology Dialysis Transplantation
- Year
- 2010
- PMID
- 20388631
- Study Type
- Human
- Participants
- 21
- Delivery
- Water (Electrolysis)
- Dose
- Dialysis solution with dissolved H2 at 48 ppb, three sessions per week for 6 months
- H₂ concentration
- 48 ppb
- Duration
- 6 months
- Outcome
- Positive
- Peer Reviewed
- Yes
- Country
- Japan
TL;DR
Adding hydrogen gas to dialysis solutions helped reduce inflammation and blood pressure in patients undergoing hemodialysis.
Key Finding
Dialysis patients using hydrogen-enriched dialysis solution showed significant reductions in blood pressure and inflammatory markers, with 62% achieving healthy blood pressure targets after treatment compared to only 21% at baseline.
Summary
Researchers tested a new dialysis system that added dissolved hydrogen gas to the dialysis solution used by kidney patients. Over 6 months, 21 patients using this hydrogen-enriched dialysis showed lower blood pressure after treatment and reduced levels of inflammatory markers (proteins that indicate inflammation in the body), with no harmful side effects reported.
Practical Takeaway
This early human trial suggests that hydrogen-enriched dialysis may help reduce inflammation and improve blood pressure control in kidney disease patients, though the study was small (21 patients) and lasted only 6 months. Larger, longer studies would be needed to confirm these benefits and determine if this approach could become standard treatment.
Abstract (excerpt)
Background: Chronic inflammation in haemodialysis (HD) patients indicates a poor prognosis. However, therapeutic approaches are limited. Hydrogen gas (H(2)) ameliorates oxidative and inflammatory injuries to organs in animal models. We developed an HD system using a dialysis solution with high…