Hydrogen Inhalation Slows COPD-Like Lung Disease in Smoke-Exposed Rats
- Authors
- Xiaoyu Liu, Cuiqing Ma, Xiaoyu Wang, Wenjing Wang, Zhu Li, Xiansheng Wang, Pengyu Wang, Wuzhuang Sun, Baojian Xue
- Journal
- International Journal of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
- Year
- 2017
- DOI
- 10.2147/COPD.S124547
- Study Type
- Rat
- Outcome
- Positive
- Peer Reviewed
- Yes
- Country
- China
- Health Condition
- Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
- Body System
- Respiratory
TL;DR
Breathing in hydrogen gas can help reduce lung damage and improve lung and heart functions in rats with a disease similar to human COPD.
Key Finding
Hydrogen gas inhalation reduced inflammatory markers and slowed lung disease progression in rats with cigarette smoke-induced COPD-like disease, with higher hydrogen concentrations showing greater benefit.
Summary
Researchers exposed rats to cigarette smoke to create a model of COPD (a lung disease that makes breathing difficult), then gave some rats different concentrations of hydrogen gas to breathe. Rats that inhaled hydrogen showed less lung damage, better lung function, and reduced markers of inflammation (the body's harmful response to injury) compared to rats that didn't receive hydrogen. Higher concentrations of hydrogen (22% and 41.6%) worked better than lower concentrations (2%).
Practical Takeaway
This rat study suggests hydrogen gas may help slow COPD development, but it's important to note this is animal research only—human studies are needed before any conclusions can be drawn about hydrogen's effects on people with COPD. The study also tested inhaled hydrogen gas rather than hydrogen water, so the findings may not directly apply to hydrogen water consumption.
Abstract (excerpt)
Background: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a progressive pulmonary disease caused by harmful gases or particles. Recent studies have shown that 2% hydrogen or hydrogen water is effective in the treatment and prevention of a variety of diseases. This study investigated…