Hydrogen Shows Promise as New Treatment for Kidney Disease
- Authors
- Bo Wang, Zhuoshu Li, Longfei Mao, Mingyi Zhao, Bingchang Yang, Xiaowu Tao, Yuxiang Li, Guangming Yin
- Journal
- Kidney Diseases
- Year
- 2022
- DOI
- 10.1159/000520981
- Study Type
- clinical
- Peer Reviewed
- Yes
- Country
- China
- Health Condition
- Kidney Disease
- Body System
- Renal System
TL;DR
Scientists found that hydrogen gas might help treat kidney disease because it can fight harmful chemicals in the body that damage cells, but we need more real-world testing on actual patients before doctors can start using it as a treatment.
Key Finding
Hydrogen selectively neutralizes certain harmful reactive oxygen species (hydroxyl radicals and peroxynitrite) while preserving beneficial ones, and shows antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and cell-protective effects in laboratory and animal studies of kidney disease.
Summary
This article reviews research on hydrogen as a potential treatment for kidney disease. Scientists have found that hydrogen may help protect kidney cells by reducing harmful molecules called reactive oxygen species and by decreasing inflammation and cell damage. However, most studies so far have only been done in cells and animals—there are very few human studies, so it's too early to know if hydrogen will actually work as a kidney disease treatment in people.
Practical Takeaway
While early laboratory evidence suggests hydrogen may have protective effects on kidney cells, this is a review article summarizing mostly animal and cell studies—not human trials. Large-scale clinical trials in humans are needed before hydrogen can be recommended as a kidney disease treatment. The optimal dose, delivery method, and timing remain unknown.
Abstract
Background: Hydrogen is a chemical substance that has yet to be widely used in medicine. However, recent evidence indicates that hydrogen has multi-faceted pharmacological effects such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antiapoptotic properties. An increased number of studies are being conducted on the application of hydrogen in various diseases, especially those affecting the renal system. Summary: Hydrogen can be inhaled, as a gas or liquid, and can be administered orally, intravenously, or locally. Hydrogen can rapidly enter suborganelles such as mitochondria and nucleus by simple diffusion, producing reactive oxygen species (ROS) and triggering DNA damage. Hydrogen can selectively scavenge hydroxyl radical (•OH) and peroxynitrite (ONOO-), but not other reactive oxygen radicals with physiological functions, such as peroxyanion (O2-) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). Although the regulatory effect of hydrogen on the signal transduction pathway has been confirmed, the specific mechanism of its influence on signal molecules remains unknown. Although many studies have investigated the therapeutic and preventive effects of H2 in cellular and animal experiments, clinical trials are few and still far behind. As a result, more clinical trials are required to investigate the role of hydrogen in kidney disease, as well as the effect of its dose, timing, and form on the overall efficacy. Large-scale randomized controlled clinical trials will be required before hydrogen can be used to treat renal illnesses. Key messages: This article reviews the mechanisms of hydrogen in the treatment of renal disease and explores the possibilities of its use in clinical practice. Keywords: Anti-inflammatory; Antioxidant; Cell death; Hydrogen; Kidney disease.