Hydrogen Protects Brain Cells from Stroke Damage in Lab Study
Hydrogen exerts neuroprotective effects on OGD/R damaged neurons in rat hippocampal by protecting mitochondrial function via regulating mitophagy mediated by PINK1/Parkin signaling pathway
Research hubs: Brain & Nervous System · Cardiovascular System
This research was done on cells or tissue in a lab, not in people or animals.
- Evidence type
- Laboratory study (cells or tissue)
- Authors
- Xinwei Wu, Xuemei Li, Yi Liu, Nannan Yuan, Chengwen Li, Zhimin Kang, Xinlei Zhang, Yuning Xia, Yimeng Hao, Yongxing Tan
- Journal
- Brain Research
- Year
- 2018
- PMID
- 29958907
- Study Type
- Cell Culture
- Delivery
- Gas
- Outcome
- Positive
- Peer Reviewed
- Yes
- Cited by
- 76 (OpenAlex, as of November 2026)
- Country
- China
TL;DR
Hydrogen gas (H2) helps protect brain cells from damage caused by reduced blood flow and oxygen, potentially by promoting the removal of damaged cell parts.
Key Finding
Hydrogen gas protected oxygen-deprived brain cells by activating a cellular cleanup process (mitophagy) that removes damaged mitochondria, an effect that was blocked when the cleanup process was inhibited.
Summary
Researchers studied how hydrogen gas protects brain cells damaged by oxygen deprivation and then restored oxygen (a condition that mimics stroke injury). Using rat brain cells in a laboratory dish, they found that hydrogen gas helped cells survive by improving how mitochondria (the cell's energy-producing structures) function. The protection appeared to work by activating a cleanup process called mitophagy, which removes damaged mitochondria and reduces harmful molecules called free radicals.
Practical Takeaway
This laboratory study in rat brain cells suggests hydrogen gas may have potential for treating stroke-related brain injury by protecting mitochondrial health, but the findings are preliminary and limited to cell culture experiments. Much more research, including animal studies and human trials, would be needed before any clinical applications could be considered. The study does not provide information about hydrogen water specifically or its effects in living organisms.
Abstract (excerpt)
Cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury (IRI) is a serious complication during the treatment of stroke patients with very few effective clinical treatment. Hydrogen (H2) can protect mitochondria function and have favorable therapeutic effects on cerebral IRI. Mitophagy plays an important role…