Hydrogen and Anti-inflammatory and Antitumor Action via Reactive Oxygen Species

Scientists found that hydrogen gas can fight cancer and inflammation by getting rid of harmful molecules in your body called free radicals, without messing up the good stuff your cells need to function normally—making it a safer option than other antioxidants we've tried before.

Hydrogen gas selectively reduces harmful reactive oxygen species (hydroxyl radicals and peroxynitrite) while preserving normal cellular signaling processes, potentially offering advantages over traditional antioxidants.

This review examines how hydrogen gas (H2) may work as an antioxidant to reduce harmful molecules called reactive oxygen species (ROS) that can damage cells and promote cancer growth. Unlike other antioxidants, hydrogen is very small and can reach deep inside cells, including the mitochondria (the cell's energy centers) and nucleus. The review suggests that hydrogen selectively targets only the most damaging types of ROS while leaving beneficial cellular processes intact, which could make it safer than traditional antioxidants for treating inflammatory diseases and cancer.

This is a review article that synthesizes existing research rather than a new experimental study, so it does not provide direct evidence of hydrogen's effects in humans. While the theoretical basis for hydrogen's antioxidant properties is described, clinical evidence in people remains limited. Anyone considering hydrogen water for health purposes should be aware that most supporting evidence comes from laboratory and animal studies, not human trials.

Hydrogen (H2) has advantages that lead it to be used as a novel antioxidant in preventive and therapeutic applications. H2 can permeate into biomembranes, cytosol, mitochondria and nuclei, and can be dissolved in water or saline to produce H2 water or H2-rich saline. H2 selectively reduces oxidants…

Read the full abstract on PubMed