Hydrogen Gas Showed Mixed Results for Brain Vessel Damage in Piglets
Conflicting findings on the effectiveness of hydrogen therapy for ameliorating vascular leakage in a 5-day post hypoxic-ischemic survival piglet model
Research hubs: Brain & Nervous System · Cardiovascular System
This research was done in animals. Results in animals often don't carry over to people.
- Evidence type
- Animal study (pig)
- Authors
- Yinmon Htun, Shinji Nakamura, Yasuhiro Nakao, Tsutomu Mitsuie, Kenichi Ohta, Makoto Arioka, Takayuki Yokota, Eri Inoue, Kota Inoue, Toi Tsuchiya, Kosuke Koyano, Yukihiko Konishi, Takanori Miki, Masaki Ueno, Takashi Kusaka
- Journal
- Scientific Reports
- Year
- 2023
- PMID
- 37380745
- Study Type
- Pig
- Participants
- 26
- Delivery
- Gas
- Dose
- H2 ventilation post hypoxic-ischemic insult
- Duration
- 5 days
- Outcome
- Neutral
- Peer Reviewed
- Yes
- Cited by
- 7 (OpenAlex, as of November 2026)
- Country
- Japan
TL;DR
Inhaling hydrogen gas did not significantly reduce brain blood vessel leakage in newborn piglets with brain damage from oxygen deprivation, although there were some indications it might help.
Key Finding
Hydrogen gas inhalation did not significantly reduce cerebral vascular leakage in newborn piglets with oxygen deprivation injury, despite previous studies showing other neuroprotective benefits.
Summary
Researchers tested whether breathing hydrogen gas could reduce brain swelling caused by oxygen deprivation in newborn piglets. They compared hydrogen gas treatment alone, cooling therapy alone, both treatments combined, and no treatment. While hydrogen gas showed some visual signs of improvement under the microscope, the measurements did not show a statistically significant (meaningful) reduction in brain swelling compared to other treatments.
Practical Takeaway
This animal study suggests that while hydrogen gas may help protect brain cells in oxygen deprivation injury, it may not effectively reduce brain swelling specifically. However, this is a small piglet study with mixed results, and much more research—including human trials—would be needed before drawing any conclusions about hydrogen therapy for this condition.
Abstract (excerpt)
Abstract Neonatal hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in newborns in both high- and low-income countries. The important determinants of its pathophysiology are neural cells and vascular components. In neonatal HIE, increased vascular permeability due…