Hydrogen Therapy Shows Promise for Protecting Against Multiple Types of Hearing Loss
- Authors
- CongZhong Wang, Mailudan Ainiwaer, Zheng Jiang, LongHao Wang
- Journal
- Noise Health
- Year
- 2026
- DOI
- 10.4103/nah.nah_141_25
- Study Type
- clinical
- Peer Reviewed
- Yes
- Country
- China
- Health Condition
- Noise-Induced Hearing Loss
- Body System
- Auditory
TL;DR
Scientists tested whether hydrogen gas could help people who lose their hearing, and found it might work by reducing harmful damage in the ear—especially when combined with regular treatments for sudden hearing loss. This is exciting because it could lead to a new way to protect or restore hearing, but doctors need to do more tests to figure out the best way to use it.
Key Finding
Hydrogen therapy showed protective effects against hearing loss in animal studies and promising results in early human trials, primarily by reducing harmful free radicals and inflammation in the inner ear.
Summary
Researchers reviewed 11 studies examining whether hydrogen therapy could help treat different types of hearing loss. Hydrogen is a gas that may reduce harmful molecules called free radicals (reactive oxygen species) in the body. The review found that in animal studies, hydrogen therapy protected the inner ear structures from noise and drug damage, while in a small number of human studies, it appeared to improve hearing recovery in patients receiving radiation therapy or experiencing sudden hearing loss. However, the evidence is still limited and more rigorous human studies are needed.
Practical Takeaway
While early evidence suggests hydrogen therapy may support hearing recovery in certain conditions like radiation-induced hearing loss, most studies reviewed were conducted in animals rather than humans. The single human trial showed positive results when hydrogen was combined with standard treatment, but larger, well-designed clinical trials are needed before hydrogen therapy can be recommended as an established treatment. Anyone considering this approach should discuss it with their healthcare provider.
Abstract
Background: Hydrogen (H 2 ) therapy demonstrates selective antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties with potential therapeutic value for multiple forms of hearing loss, though consolidated evidence is still lacking. Methods: We conducted a systematic review following Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines, searching PubMed, MEDLINE, and DOAJ (until March 1, 2025) for studies on H 2 treatment for noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL), drug-induced hearing loss (DIHL), radiotherapy-induced hearing loss (RIHL), and idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss (ISSNHL). After screening by two reviewers, 11 studies involving human or animal subjects were included. Data were synthesized by hearing loss type, and the Systematic Review Centre for Laboratory Animal Experimentation tool assessed bias risk in animal studies. Results: In NIHL models, H 2 administration reduced Auditory Brainstem Response threshold shifts and improved Distortion Product Otoacoustic Emissions recovery, while preserving cochlear morphology via reactive oxygen species (ROS) suppression. For DIHL, inhaled H 2 protected hair cells and spiral ganglion neurons through ROS scavenging and apoptosis inhibition. Clinically, H 2 inhalation improved hearing in RIHL patients post-radiotherapy. One randomized trial in ISSNHL showed H 2 combined with standard therapy significantly enhanced hearing recovery. Conclusion: H 2 exhibits protective effects in preclinical NIHL and DIHL models, and promising outcomes in clinical RIHL and ISSNHL, primarily via antioxidative and anti-inflammatory mechanisms. Further trials are required to establish optimal protocols and confirm efficacy.