Hydrogen Inhalation Boosts Immune Defense in COVID-19 Survivors
Hydrogen effect on the mechanisms of mucosal immunity in patients with COVID-19
Research hubs: Immune System · Respiratory System
- Evidence type
- Controlled trial (non-randomized) · Human study
- Authors
- Oxana A. Svitich, Irina A. Baranova, Nadezhda O. Kryukova, Alexander V. Poddubikov, Alexandra B. Vinnitskaya, Natalia D. Abramova, Valeria V. Zakharova, Ludmila V. Shogenova, Mikhail P. Kostinov, Alexander G. Chuchalin
- Journal
- Terapevticheskii Arkhiv
- Year
- 2022
- PMID
- 36286901
- Study Type
- Human
- Participants
- 60
- Delivery
- Gas
- Dose
- 90 minutes inhaled hydrogen
- Duration
- 10 days
- Outcome
- Positive
- Peer Reviewed
- Yes
- Cited by
- 3 (OpenAlex, as of November 2026)
- Country
- Russia
TL;DR
Inhaling hydrogen helped improve certain immune responses in the noses of health workers recovering from COVID-19.
Key Finding
Inhaled hydrogen therapy increased infection-fighting granulocytes in the nasal cavity by 2.5 times and immune cells in the throat by 2.8 times compared to baseline, along with a 2.9-fold increase in a protective antibody in nasal secretions.
Summary
This study tested whether inhaling hydrogen gas could help boost immune function in people recovering from COVID-19. Thirty patients who survived COVID-19 received 90 minutes of hydrogen inhalation therapy, while 30 others received standard care. Researchers measured immune markers (infection-fighting cells and proteins) in nasal and throat samples before treatment and 10 days later. The hydrogen group showed increases in certain immune cells in the nasal cavity and throat, and higher levels of a protective protein in nasal secretions, though blood immune markers did not change.
Practical Takeaway
This small human study suggests hydrogen inhalation may support local immune recovery in COVID-19 survivors, but findings are limited to surface tissues (nose and throat) with no changes in blood immune markers. Much larger and longer studies are needed before any conclusions can be drawn about whether this approach is truly beneficial for post-COVID recovery.
Abstract (excerpt)
Aim: To study the inhalation of an active form of hydrogen effect to mucosal and system immunity in a rehabilitation program for health workers. Materials and methods: The study involved patients that survived COVID-19 after therapy with inhaled hydrogen for 90 minutes (n=30), and a control group…