Hydrogen Therapy Shows Promise for 31 Disease Categories in Major Review

Authors
Journal
Medical Gas Research
Year
DOI
10.1186/s13618-015-0035-1
Study Type
clinical
Peer Reviewed
Yes
Country
Japan
Health Condition
Oxidative Stress Disorders
Body System
Cardiovascular

TL;DR

Scientists looked at over 300 studies on hydrogen and found it might help treat lots of different diseases by reducing harmful molecules in your body, but they're still figuring out exactly how it all works.

Key Finding

Approximately three-quarters of the 321 studies reviewed reported beneficial effects of molecular hydrogen across 31 disease categories and 166 different disease models, primarily in animal studies.

Summary

This comprehensive review analyzed 321 scientific studies published between 2007 and 2015 on molecular hydrogen—hydrogen gas or hydrogen-infused water—and its potential therapeutic effects. The studies examined hydrogen's effects across 31 different disease categories, with most research conducted in animal models (mice and rats). Researchers found that hydrogen appears to work by reducing harmful molecules called free radicals and by affecting various cellular signaling pathways, though the complete mechanism of how it works remains unclear.

Practical Takeaway

While this review suggests hydrogen has been studied extensively for potential therapeutic effects, the vast majority of research has been conducted in animals rather than humans. The number of human clinical trials is increasing but remains limited. The underlying mechanisms of how hydrogen works are not yet fully understood, so definitive health claims cannot be made at this time.

Abstract

Therapeutic effects of molecular hydrogen for a wide range of disease models and human diseases have been investigated since 2007. A total of 321 original articles have been published from 2007 to June 2015. Most studies have been conducted in Japan, China, and the USA. About three-quarters of the articles show the effects in mice and rats. The number of clinical trials is increasing every year. In most diseases, the effect of hydrogen has been reported with hydrogen water or hydrogen gas, which was followed by confirmation of the effect with hydrogen-rich saline. Hydrogen water is mostly given ad libitum. Hydrogen gas of less than 4 % is given by inhalation. The effects have been reported in essentially all organs covering 31 disease categories that can be subdivided into 166 disease models, human diseases, treatment-associated pathologies, and pathophysiological conditions of plants with a predominance of oxidative stress-mediated diseases and inflammatory diseases. Specific extinctions of hydroxyl radical and peroxynitrite were initially presented, but the radical-scavenging effect of hydrogen cannot be held solely accountable for its drastic effects. We and others have shown that the effects can be mediated by modulating activities and expressions of various molecules such as Lyn, ERK, p38, JNK, ASK1, Akt, GTP-Rac1, iNOS, Nox1, NF-κB p65, IκBα, STAT3, NFATc1, c-Fos, and ghrelin. Master regulator(s) that drive these modifications, however, remain to be elucidated and are currently being extensively investigated.