Hydrogen Inhalation Reduces Exercise Injury in Athletes
- Authors
- Xiaohong Zhang, Xiaofei Lu, Fan Li, Hao Gu, Xun Cheng, Jinhong Tang, Xiaodong Zhang, Jun Jiang, Li Feng, Xuemin Li
- Journal
- Journal of Thoracic Disease
- Year
- 2025
- DOI
- 10.21037/jtd-2025-1278
- Study Type
- Human
- Outcome
- Positive
- Peer Reviewed
- Yes
- Country
- China
- Health Condition
- Exercise-Induced Lung Injury
- Body System
- Respiratory
TL;DR
Inhaling hydrogen gas helped athletes recover from intense training by reducing lung inflammation and oxidative stress.
Key Finding
Athletes who inhaled hydrogen gas after exercise showed reduced inflammation markers (WBC and CRP), improved antioxidant capacity, and better preservation of blood cell stability compared to control and infrared blanket groups.
Summary
This study tested whether breathing hydrogen gas could help athletes recover from intense exercise. Thirty-one athletes were divided into three groups: a control group, a group using an infrared blanket, and a group inhaling hydrogen gas. Researchers measured markers of oxidative stress (cellular damage from exercise), inflammation, and blood health before and after winter training. The hydrogen group showed better antioxidant protection, lower inflammation markers, and more stable blood cell counts compared to the other groups.
Practical Takeaway
While this small human study suggests hydrogen inhalation may help reduce exercise-induced inflammation and oxidative stress in athletes, the findings are preliminary and the study had a limited number of participants. More research with larger groups and longer follow-up periods would be needed to confirm whether hydrogen inhalation provides meaningful benefits for athletic recovery or lung protection.
Abstract
Background: Strenuous exercise can lead to exercise-induced lung injury, primarily driven by elevated oxidative stress and systemic inflammation. Although hydrogen (H2) inhalation has been proposed as a nonpharmacological intervention with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory potential, its effects in the context of exercise remain poorly understood. This study aimed to investigate whether H2 inhalation could mitigate exercise-induced systemic stress responses in athletes. Methods: Thirty-one healthy athletes were divided into a control group (n=14), an infrared blanket group (n=9), and a H2 inhalation group (n=8). Blood samples were collected before and after winter training to evaluate oxidative stress [total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and malondialdehyde (MDA)], inflammation and lung injury-related markers [white blood cell count (WBC)], C-reactive protein (CRP), hematological indicators [red blood cell count (RBC), hemoglobin (HB), hematocrit (HCT), and mean corpuscular volume (MCV)], biochemical indicators [creatine kinase (CK) and blood urea nitrogen (BUN)], and stress-related hormones [total cholesterol (T), cholesterol (C), and ferritin (FE)]. Lung injury was considered to reflect exercise-induced lung stress. The systemic and inflammatory indices of stimulation were inferred. Results: After a single postexercise intervention, the H2 group showed improved antioxidant capacity and reduced WBC and CRP levels. These effects persisted after winter training. Moreover, the H2 group maintained stable RBC, HB, and HCT levels, unlike the infrared blanket group, suggesting better preservation of oxygen-carrying capacity and hematological stability. Conclusions: H2 inhalation attenuates exercise-induced lung injury by reducing oxidative stress and inflammation. It may represent a promising adjunctive approach for protecting pulmonary function during intensive athletic training in the winter.