Hydrogen Gas Injection Protects Liver from Fat Damage in Mice
Hydrogen gas (H2) delivered by intraperitoneal injection alleviated methionine- and choline-deficient diet-induced metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease in mice via inhibiting GSDMD- and GSDME-mediated pyroptosis
Research hubs: Digestive System
- Evidence type
- Animal study (mouse)
- Authors
- Yun Chen, Kangrong Wang, Wenhai Guo, Chengqin Lu, Wenting Suo, Qiuling Li, Yao Deng, Xinling Chen, Min Dai, Xiaodong Zhang, Jiean Xu, Wen Su, Shuangling Yang, Hongzhi Yang, Fuman Yan, Haimei Liu, Yaxing Zhang
- Journal
- Frontiers in Pharmacology
- Year
- 2025
- DOI
- 10.3389/fphar.2025.1575106
- Study Type
- Mouse
- Outcome
- Positive
- Peer Reviewed
- Yes
- Country
- China
- Health Condition
- Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease
- Body System
- Hepatic
This research was done in animals. Results in animals often don't carry over to people.
TL;DR
Injecting hydrogen gas into the body helped protect the liver from fat buildup, inflammation, and cell death in a mouse model of fatty liver disease.
Key Finding
Hydrogen gas delivered by injection protected mice from metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease by suppressing pyroptosis and reducing oxidative stress and inflammation.
Summary
Researchers gave mice with a type of liver disease (caused by a special diet that mimics metabolic dysfunction) hydrogen gas through injections. The hydrogen gas reduced liver damage, fat buildup, and scarring by decreasing oxidative stress (harmful molecules) and blocking a type of cell death called pyroptosis (a process where immune signals cause liver cells to burst and release inflammatory chemicals). These findings were confirmed in both the mice and in human liver cells grown in a lab.
Practical Takeaway
This is early-stage research conducted only in mice and lab-grown cells, not in humans. While the results suggest hydrogen gas may have potential for treating fatty liver disease through anti-inflammatory mechanisms, it is far too early to draw conclusions about whether hydrogen water or other hydrogen delivery methods would have similar effects in people. Much more research, including human studies, would be needed before any therapeutic recommendations could be made.
Abstract (excerpt)
BackgroundHydrogen gas (H2), which is the lightest and diffusible gas molecule, has strong abilities to alleviate excessive oxidative stress, inflammation, and apoptosis. Inhalation of H2 is beneficial for preventing the damage of the lung, heart, brain, liver, kidneys, and many other organs…