Hydrogen Gas Reduces Brain Inflammation After Stroke in Lab Study
Effects of hydrogen on polarization of macrophages and microglia in a stroke model
Research hubs: Brain & Nervous System · Immune System
This research was done on cells or tissue in a lab, not in people or animals.
- Evidence type
- Laboratory study (cells or tissue)
- Authors
- Ke Ning, Wen-Wu Liu, Jun-Long Huang, Hong-Tao Lu, Xue-Jun Sun
- Journal
- Medical Gas Research
- Year
- 2018
- PMID
- 30713668
- Study Type
- Cell Culture
- Delivery
- Gas
- Outcome
- Positive
- Peer Reviewed
- Yes
- Cited by
- 28 (OpenAlex, as of November 2026)
- Country
- China
TL;DR
Hydrogen gas can reduce harmful inflammation in the brain after a stroke by influencing immune cells.
Key Finding
Hydrogen gas treatment significantly reduced the activation of pro-inflammatory M1 macrophages and microglia in laboratory stroke models, while having no effect on anti-inflammatory M2 cells.
Summary
This laboratory study examined how hydrogen gas affects immune cells called macrophages and microglia, which become activated and inflamed after a stroke. Researchers exposed these cells to conditions that mimic stroke damage, then treated them with hydrogen gas. They found that hydrogen reduced the activation of pro-inflammatory immune cells (called M1 cells) but did not affect anti-inflammatory cells (M2 cells), suggesting hydrogen might protect the brain by reducing harmful inflammation after a stroke.
Practical Takeaway
This is an early-stage laboratory study in cells, not humans or animals, so it cannot yet inform real-world use. The findings suggest hydrogen may have anti-inflammatory effects relevant to stroke, but much more research—including animal studies and human trials—would be needed to determine if hydrogen water or hydrogen gas could actually help stroke patients. The study does not address how hydrogen would be delivered to the brain or whether it would work the same way in a living organism.
Abstract (excerpt)
It has been confirmed that inflammation plays an important role in the pathogenesis of ischemic stroke. The polarization of microglia as an important participant in the inflammation following stroke is also found to be involved in stroke. This study aimed to investigate the effects of hydrogen gas…