Hydrogen Gas Lowers Blood Pressure in Hypertensive Rats
Daily inhalation of hydrogen gas has a blood pressure-lowering effect in a rat model of hypertension
Research hubs: Cardiovascular System · Brain & Nervous System
This research was done in animals. Results in animals often don't carry over to people.
- Evidence type
- Animal study (rat)
- Authors
- Kazuhisa Sugai, Tomoyoshi Tamura, Motoaki Sano, Shizuka Uemura, Masahiko Fujisawa, Yoshinori Katsumata, Jin Endo, Joe Yoshizawa, Koichiro Homma, Masaru Suzuki, Eiji Kobayashi, Junichi Sasaki, Yoji Hakamata
- Journal
- Scientific Reports
- Year
- 2020
- PMID
- 33244027
- Study Type
- Rat
- Delivery
- Gas
- Dose
- 1.3% H2 + 21% O2 + 77.7% N2 for 1 hour per day
- H₂ concentration
- 1.3% H2
- Outcome
- Positive
- Peer Reviewed
- Yes
- Cited by
- 31 (OpenAlex, as of November 2026)
- Country
- Japan
TL;DR
Breathing in hydrogen gas for one hour a day lowered high blood pressure in rats with kidney damage.
Key Finding
Daily one-hour inhalation of hydrogen gas (1.3%) significantly reduced blood pressure in rats with hypertension caused by kidney disease, with effects occurring during both rest and activity.
Summary
Researchers gave rats with high blood pressure caused by kidney disease either hydrogen gas or regular air to breathe for one hour each day. The rats that breathed hydrogen gas showed lower blood pressure compared to the control group. The hydrogen appeared to work by balancing the nervous system—it reduced overactivity in the part that raises blood pressure and increased activity in the part that lowers it.
Practical Takeaway
This rat study suggests hydrogen gas inhalation may help lower blood pressure by affecting the nervous system, but it is an early-stage animal study only. Human trials would be needed to determine if these results apply to people with high blood pressure. The study does not tell us whether hydrogen water (a different delivery method) would have similar effects.
Abstract (excerpt)
A recent clinical study demonstrated that haemodialysis with a dialysate containing hydrogen (H2) improves blood pressure control in end-stage kidney disease. Herein, we examined whether H2 has a salutary effect on hypertension in animal models. We subjected 5/6 nephrectomised rats to inhalation…