How Hydrogen Therapy Works: New Research Reveals Multiple Health Benefits
- Authors
- Shigeo Ohta
- Journal
- Current Pharmaceutical Design
- Year
- 2020
- DOI
- 10.2174/1381612826666200806101137
- Study Type
- clinical
- Peer Reviewed
- Yes
- Country
- Japan
- Health Condition
- COVID-19
- Body System
- Cellular
TL;DR
Scientists found that breathing in or consuming molecular hydrogen (H2) can help your body fight damage from harmful molecules called free radicals, which is like having a tiny repair crew that fixes oxidative stress damage in your cells. This discovery is important because it could lead to new treatments for serious diseases like COVID-19, Alzheimer's, and cancer.
Key Finding
Molecular hydrogen appears to exert its multiple protective effects primarily by directly reacting with hydroxyl radicals and subsequently blocking harmful free radical chain reactions, which then modulates key cellular control switches involved in antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and cellular recycling processes.
Summary
This review examines how molecular hydrogen (H2) works in the body at a molecular level. Researchers found that H2 primarily acts by neutralizing harmful molecules called hydroxyl radicals, which trigger damaging chain reactions in cells. This action then reduces inflammation, regulates cell death and recycling processes, and boosts energy production. The review proposes that H2's effects stem from its ability to interrupt these damaging chain reactions and influence key cellular control switches (transcription factors) that govern protective processes.
Practical Takeaway
This is a theoretical review that synthesizes existing research rather than reporting new experimental results, and it does not include human trials. While it proposes plausible mechanisms for how hydrogen water might work in the body, these mechanisms remain largely unproven in humans. Anyone interested in hydrogen water should recognize that this review identifies promising research directions but does not provide evidence that hydrogen water delivers these benefits in real-world use.
Abstract (excerpt)
Molecular hydrogen (H2) was long regarded as non-functional in mammalian cells. We overturned the concept by demonstrating that H2 exhibits antioxidant effects and protects cells against oxidative stress. Subsequently, it has been revealed that H2 has multiple functions in addition to antioxidant…