Hydrogen Tablets Speed Recovery from Sports Concussion in Athlete
- Authors
- Dejan Javorac, Valdemar Stajer, Sergej M. Ostojic
- Journal
- F1000Research
- Year
- 2019
- DOI
- 10.12688/f1000research.19739.1
- Study Type
- Human
- Outcome
- Positive
- Peer Reviewed
- Yes
- Country
- Serbia
- Health Condition
- Mild Traumatic Brain Injury
- Body System
- Nervous System
TL;DR
A professional soccer player with a mild brain injury showed improvement after treatment with a hydrogen-producing tablet taken by mouth, suggesting this could be a safe and effective first-aid option.
Key Finding
A single professional athlete showed improvement in concussion symptoms (measured by SCAT2 score: 68 to 84 points) within 24 hours of receiving buccal hydrogen tablets after mild traumatic brain injury, with no reported adverse effects.
Summary
This case report describes one professional soccer player who suffered a mild traumatic brain injury (concussion) and received a hydrogen-producing tablet dissolved in the mouth every 2 hours starting about 15 minutes after the injury. A standardized concussion assessment test showed improvement from severe to mild disruption within 24 hours, and the player reported no side effects.
Practical Takeaway
While this single case suggests hydrogen tablets may be safe and possibly helpful for concussion recovery, it is far too limited to draw conclusions—one athlete's experience cannot establish whether the improvement was due to the hydrogen, natural recovery, or other factors. Much larger, controlled studies would be needed before this could be considered a reliable treatment option.
Abstract
Background: Sport-related mild traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a serious trauma that could impair brain function of an injured athlete. Treatment solutions for mild TBI typically concentrate on complete rest, while non-traditional therapeutic options remain largely ineffective. Molecular hydrogen (H 2 ) is an innovative neuroprotective agent that can easily reach the brain, yet no data are available concerning its value as a first-aid intervention after a mild TBI. Case report: This case report demonstrates the efficacy and safety of a hydrogen-producing dissolving tablet administered buccally during the first 24 hours post-injury in a professional soccer player who suffered a mild TBI. The patient received a formulated dosage of hydrogen every 2 hours, with the first intervention given immediately after an initial examination (~ 15 min after the injury). The overall score for Sport Concussion Assessment Tool 2 (SCAT2), a standardized method of evaluating injured athletes for concussion, increased from 68 points (severe disruption) at baseline to 84 points (mild disruption) at 24-h follow-up. The patient reported no side effects of hydrogen intervention. Conclusions: This case has demonstrated that intensive consecutive therapy with oral transmucosal hydrogen formulation is a beneficial strategy with regard to the reduction of presence and severity of symptoms of sport-related mild TBI.