Hydrogen Gas Reduces Gut Inflammation by Restoring Healthy Bacteria
- Authors
- Wei Shi, Mingyu Xi, Kaini Zhang, Jiaojiao Yang, Xi Cheng, Haojing Zang, Weiping Fan
- Journal
- International Immunopharmacology
- Year
- 2025
- DOI
- 10.1016/j.intimp.2025.115671
- Study Type
- Mouse
- Outcome
- Positive
- Peer Reviewed
- Yes
- Country
- China
- Health Condition
- Inflammatory Bowel Disease
- Body System
- Gastrointestinal
TL;DR
Hydrogen inhalation improves IBD by restoring gut microbiota, strengthening the gut barrier, and reducing inflammation.
Key Finding
Hydrogen gas inhalation reversed gut bacteria imbalances caused by colitis and reduced colon inflammation in mice by restoring beneficial bacteria, strengthening the intestinal barrier, and suppressing inflammatory signaling pathways.
Summary
This mouse study investigated how hydrogen gas inhalation might help treat colitis (inflammation of the colon). Researchers found that hydrogen gas inhalation changed the balance of bacteria in the gut, reduced harmful bacteria, increased beneficial bacteria, strengthened the intestinal barrier, and reduced inflammation through specific molecular pathways. The study suggests that these effects work together to reduce colitis symptoms.
Practical Takeaway
This is an early-stage animal study that provides mechanistic insight into how hydrogen gas might help with inflammatory bowel disease, but results in mice do not necessarily translate to humans. Before considering hydrogen gas therapy for colitis or IBD, people should consult their healthcare provider, as human clinical trials are needed to establish safety and effectiveness.
Abstract
Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic and relapsing autoimmune disorder of the gastrointestinal tract with incompletely elucidated pathogenesis and limited therapeutic options. Although hydrogen gas (H₂) has demonstrated therapeutic efficacy in various diseases including IBD, its mechanisms of action, particularly its interaction with the gut microbiota, remain poorly characterized. This study reveals that H₂ inhalation effectively reversed dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced dysbiosis by suppressing the expansion of potential pathogenic bacteria (e.g., Enterobacteriaceae and Escherichia-Shigella) and promoting potential beneficial microbes (e.g., Bacteroides and Lactobacillaceae), thereby restoring microbial homeostasis. Furthermore, H₂ inhalation enhanced goblet cell density and mucus production, upregulated tight junction proteins (ZO-1 and occludin), and repaired intestinal barrier integrity. It also rebalanced the Treg/Th17 cell ratio, correcting immune dysregulation. At the molecular level, H₂ inhalation suppressed the TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathway and activated the Keap1/Nrf2 antioxidant axis, leading to reduced production of pro-inflammatory cytokines and oxidative stress markers, alongside elevated antioxidant enzymes, collectively ameliorating colonic injury. In brief, the ameliorative effects of H₂ are likely mediated through remodeling of the gut microbiota, restoration of the epithelial barrier, suppression of inflammatory signaling, and activation of antioxidant pathways. These findings were further validated by fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) experiments. Collectively, this study links the therapeutic effects of H₂ to structural and functional reprogramming of the gut microbiome, indicating that microbial ecological restoration is a central mechanism through which H₂ alleviates colitis, thereby providing a mechanistic foundation for the therapeutic application of H₂ inhalation in IBD.