Hydrogen Inhalation Shows Promise as Safe COVID-19 Treatment
- Authors
- C. Salomez-Ihl, J. Giai, M. Barbado, A. Paris, S. Touati, J.P. Alcaraz, S. Tanguy, C. Leroy, A. Lehmann, B. Degano, M. Gavard, P. Bedouch, P. Pavese, A. Moureau-Gaudry, M. Roustit, F. Boucher, P. Cinquin, J.P. Brion
- Journal
- Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy
- Year
- 2024
- DOI
- 10.1128/aac.00573-24
- Study Type
- Human
- Outcome
- Positive
- Peer Reviewed
- Yes
- Country
- France
- Health Condition
- COVID-19
- Body System
- Respiratory
TL;DR
Breathing in a special hydrogen gas mixture appears to be a safe potential treatment for COVID-19 patients.
Key Finding
Inhaled hydrogen gas (3.6% mixed with nitrogen) was safe and well-tolerated in all 12 hospitalized COVID-19 patients tested, with no serious adverse effects reported.
Summary
Researchers tested whether inhaling a mixture of hydrogen gas (3.6%) and nitrogen (96.4%) could be safely used to help treat hospitalized COVID-19 patients. In this early-stage safety study of 12 patients, all participants tolerated the treatment well and showed clinical improvement. The study found that patients could safely inhale this hydrogen mixture for at least 3 days without problems.
Practical Takeaway
This is a very small, early-stage safety study in hospitalized COVID-19 patients—it does not yet prove that hydrogen inhalation is effective as a COVID-19 treatment. While the safety results are encouraging, much larger controlled trials are needed before any conclusions can be drawn about whether this therapy actually helps COVID-19 patients recover faster or better than standard care alone.
Abstract
The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), has triggered a serious global health crisis, resulting in millions of reported deaths since its initial identification in China in November 2019. The global disparities in immunization access emphasize the urgent need for ongoing research into therapeutic interventions. This study focuses on the potential use of molecular dihydrogen (H2) inhalation as an adjunctive treatment for COVID-19. H2 therapy shows promise in inhibiting intracellular signaling pathways associated with inflammation, particularly when administered early in conjunction with nasal oxygen therapy. This phase I study, characterized by an open-label, prospective, monocentric, and single ascending-dose design, seeks to assess the safety and tolerability of the procedure in individuals with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection. Employing a 3 + 3 design, the study includes three exposure durations (target durations): 1 day (D1), 3 days (D2), and 6 days (D3). We concluded that the maximum tolerated duration is at least 3 days. Every patient showed clinical improvement and excellent tolerance to H2 therapy. To the best of our knowledge, this phase I clinical trial is the first to establish the safety of inhaling a mixture of H2 (3.6%) and N2 (96.4%) in hospitalized COVID-19 patients. The original device and method employed ensure the absence of explosion risk. The encouraging outcomes observed in the 12 patients included in the study justify further exploration through larger, controlled clinical trials.