Hydrogen Gas and Cardiac Arrest Recovery in Rats
H <sub>2</sub> Gas Improves Functional Outcome After Cardiac Arrest to an Extent Comparable to Therapeutic Hypothermia in a Rat Model
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
- Kei Hayashida, Motoaki Sano, Naomi Kamimura, Takashi Yokota, Masaru Suzuki, Yuichiro Maekawa, Akio Kawamura, Takayuki Abe, Shigeo Ohta, Keiichi Fukuda, Shingo Hori
- Journal
- Journal of the American Heart Association
- Year
- 2012
- PMID
- 23316300
- Study Type
- Rat
- Delivery
- Gas
- Dose
- 2% H2 gas inhalation for 2 hours after return of spontaneous circulation
- H₂ concentration
- 2% H2 gas
- Outcome
- Positive
- Peer Reviewed
- Yes
- Cited by
- 101 (OpenAlex, as of November 2026)
- Country
- Japan
TL;DR
Breathing in hydrogen gas during CPR can improve survival and brain function after a heart stops beating, similarly to the benefits of cooling the body.
Key Finding
In rats, inhaling hydrogen gas during CPR improved survival and neurological recovery to a degree comparable to therapeutic hypothermia, a proven clinical treatment for cardiac arrest.
Summary
In this rat study, researchers induced cardiac arrest and tested whether inhaling hydrogen gas during CPR could improve survival and brain function recovery. They compared hydrogen gas inhalation to standard treatment and to therapeutic hypothermia (controlled cooling), which is already used clinically. Hydrogen gas inhalation improved survival rates and neurological recovery as effectively as therapeutic hypothermia, and it also reduced markers of cellular damage and inflammation in the heart.
Practical Takeaway
This rat study suggests hydrogen gas inhalation may help protect the brain and heart after cardiac arrest, but these results cannot yet be applied to humans. Much more research, including human clinical trials, would be needed to determine if hydrogen gas could be a useful treatment for cardiac arrest patients.
Abstract (excerpt)
Background All clinical and biological manifestations related to postcardiac arrest ( CA ) syndrome are attributed to ischemia–reperfusion injury in various organs including brain and heart. Molecular hydrogen (H 2 ) has potential as a novel antioxidant. This study tested the hypothesis that…