Hydrogen Gas Protects Brain Cells from Oxygen Toxicity in Lab Study
- Authors
- Junchao Yu, Qiuhong Yu, Yaling Liu, Ruiyun Zhang, Lianbi Xue
- Journal
- PLoS One
- Year
- 2017
- DOI
- 10.1371/journal.pone.0173645
- Study Type
- Cell Culture
- Outcome
- Positive
- Peer Reviewed
- Yes
- Country
- China
- Health Condition
- Oxygen Toxicity
- Body System
- Nervous System
TL;DR
Hydrogen gas (H2) can protect cells from the damaging effects of high-pressure oxygen therapy by reducing harmful oxygen-related molecules.
Key Finding
Hydrogen gas selectively reduced hydroxyl radical levels and protected nerve cells against damage from high-pressure oxygen exposure in laboratory tests.
Summary
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (breathing oxygen at high pressure) can damage nerve cells by creating harmful molecules called reactive oxygen species. This study tested whether hydrogen gas could protect nerve cells (PC12 cells) from this damage. Researchers exposed cells to high-pressure oxygen with or without hydrogen gas and measured cell survival and damage markers. Hydrogen gas improved cell survival, reduced damage to cell structures, and specifically lowered levels of a particularly harmful molecule called hydroxyl radicals, without affecting other reactive oxygen species that may be beneficial.
Practical Takeaway
This early laboratory study suggests hydrogen gas may help protect against oxygen toxicity from hyperbaric therapy, but these results are from cells in a dish, not humans. Much more research—including animal and human studies—would be needed before hydrogen could be considered for clinical use alongside hyperbaric oxygen therapy.
Abstract (excerpt)
Hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) therapy through breathing oxygen at the pressure of above 1 atmosphere absolute (ATA) is useful for varieties of clinical conditions, especially hypoxic-ischemic diseases. Because of generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), breathing oxygen gas at high pressures can…