Hydrogen Gas Shows Mixed Results for Eye Inflammation in Rats
Effects of Post-Treatment Hydrogen Gas Inhalation on Uveitis Induced by Endotoxin in Rats
Research hubs: Eyes & Vision System
This research was done in animals. Results in animals often don't carry over to people.
- Evidence type
- Animal study (rat)
- Authors
- Wei-Ming Yan, Tao Chen, Pan Long, Zhe Zhang, Qian Liu, Xiaocheng Wang, Jing An, Zuo-Ming Zhang
- Journal
- Medical Science Monitor
- Year
- 2018
- PMID
- 29875353
- Study Type
- Rat
- Delivery
- Gas
- Dose
- 67% H2 and 33% O2 gas mixture inhalation post-LPS injection
- H₂ concentration
- 67% H2
- Outcome
- Neutral
- Peer Reviewed
- Yes
- Cited by
- 12 (OpenAlex, as of November 2026)
- Country
- China
TL;DR
Breathing in hydrogen gas did not reduce the visible symptoms or cell infiltration in rat eye inflammation, but it did lower protein levels in eye fluid and slightly calm immune cells in the eye.
Key Finding
Hydrogen gas inhalation did not reduce clinical signs of eye inflammation or immune cell infiltration in rats, but it did lower aqueous humor protein concentration and reduce microglia activation.
Summary
Researchers induced eye inflammation in rats and then had some rats breathe hydrogen gas mixed with oxygen. While hydrogen gas did not reduce visible signs of inflammation or the number of immune cells in the eye, it did lower protein levels in the fluid inside the eye and reduced activation of a type of immune cell called microglia (which contribute to inflammation). This suggests hydrogen may have some anti-inflammatory effects at the cellular level, even though the overall clinical symptoms did not improve.
Practical Takeaway
This rat study suggests hydrogen gas may have some cellular anti-inflammatory effects, but these did not translate into visible clinical improvement. Because this is an animal study with a specific type of eye inflammation, it's unclear whether these findings would apply to humans or other conditions. More research would be needed before drawing conclusions about hydrogen's usefulness for inflammatory eye disease in people.
Abstract (excerpt)
BACKGROUND Molecular hydrogen (H2) has been widely reported to have benefiicial effects in diverse animal models and human disease through reduction of oxidative stress and inflammation. The aim of this study was to investigate whether hydrogen gas could ameliorate endotoxin-induced uveitis (EIU)…