Hydrogen Gas Plus Nitric Oxide Reduces Lung Damage in Mice
Combination therapy with nitric oxide and molecular hydrogen in a murine model of acute lung injury
Research hubs: Respiratory System
This research was done in animals. Results in animals often don't carry over to people.
- Evidence type
- Animal study (mouse)
- Authors
- Huiying Liu, Xiaojun Liang, Dadong Wang, Hongquan Zhang, Lingling Liu, Hongguang Chen, Yuan Li, Qing Duan, Ke-Liang Xie
- Journal
- Shock
- Year
- 2015
- PMID
- 25643010
- Study Type
- Mouse
- Delivery
- Gas
- Dose
- 2% H2 inhalation for 3 hours starting 5 minutes after LPS administration
- H₂ concentration
- 2%
- Outcome
- Positive
- Peer Reviewed
- Yes
- Cited by
- 50 (OpenAlex, as of November 2026)
- Country
- China
TL;DR
Breathing in a mix of nitric oxide and hydrogen gas can better protect the lungs from severe injury in mice than either gas alone.
Key Finding
In mice with acute lung injury, combining inhaled nitric oxide and hydrogen gas produced stronger protective effects than either treatment alone, while hydrogen eliminated harmful reactive nitrogen species produced by nitric oxide.
Summary
Researchers tested whether combining two inhaled gases—nitric oxide and hydrogen—could better treat acute lung injury (severe inflammation and damage in the lungs) in mice. They created lung injury in mice and treated some with nitric oxide alone, hydrogen alone, or both together. The combination treatment worked better than either gas alone, reducing lung damage, inflammation, and harmful chemical byproducts that form when nitric oxide is used by itself.
Practical Takeaway
This is early research in mice only, so it cannot yet be applied to humans. The study suggests that hydrogen gas might enhance nitric oxide therapy and reduce its side effects, but human clinical trials would be needed to determine if this combination could help critically ill patients. The findings are preliminary and do not support any health claims for hydrogen water or hydrogen inhalation in people at this time.
Abstract (excerpt)
Acute lung injury (ALI) is still a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in critically ill patients. Inhaled nitric oxide (NO) has been reported to ameliorate ALI. However, reactive nitrogen species produced by NO can cause lung injury. Because hydrogen gas (H2) is reported to eliminate…