Can hydrogen gas help with ulcerative colitis symptoms?

This study found that hydrogen gas inhalation improved gut bacteria diversity but didn't directly reduce UC symptoms. However, it appears promising as a complementary therapy when combined with other treatments.

How was hydrogen gas administered in this UC study?

Patients inhaled hydrogen gas for 4 hours daily over 8 weeks using specialized equipment. The treatment was completely safe with no reported side effects.

What did researchers find about gut bacteria and hydrogen therapy?

Hydrogen inhalation significantly increased gut bacteria diversity and altered 115 genes related to intestinal function. This suggests hydrogen can help restore healthier gut microbiomes.

Is hydrogen gas inhalation safe for ulcerative colitis patients?

Yes, the study found hydrogen gas inhalation was completely safe with no adverse events reported. All 10 patients tolerated the 8-week treatment well.

How might hydrogen therapy work best for inflammatory bowel disease?

Researchers suggest hydrogen therapy may be most effective when combined with other microbiome treatments like fecal microbiota transplantation. It could serve as a safe complementary approach to restore gut health.

Hydrogen Gas Improves Gut Health in Ulcerative Colitis Patients

Authors: Takafumi Maruyama, Dai Ishikawa, Rina Kurokawa, Hiroaki Masuoka, Kei Nomura, Mayuko Haraikawa, Masayuki Orikasa, Rina Odakura, Masao Koma, Masashi Omori, Hirotaka Ishino, Kentaro Ito, Tomoyoshi Shibuya, Wataru Suda, Akihito Nagahara
Journal: Biomedicines
Year: 2025
DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines13081799
Study Type: Human
Outcome: Positive
Peer Reviewed: Yes
Country: Japan
Health Condition: Ulcerative Colitis
Body System: Gastrointestinal

TL;DR

Breathing hydrogen gas daily may improve gut bacteria diversity in people with ulcerative colitis, though clear symptom relief wasn’t seen in this small study.

Key Finding

Hydrogen gas inhalation increased intestinal microbiota diversity and caused significant changes in gut bacteria composition and function in ulcerative colitis patients, but did not produce clear improvements in disease symptoms.

Summary

This study tested whether inhaling hydrogen gas could help patients with ulcerative colitis (a chronic intestinal disease involving inflammation and dysbiosis, or imbalanced gut bacteria). Researchers had 10 patients with active ulcerative colitis inhale either hydrogen gas or placebo air for 4 hours daily for 8 weeks. The hydrogen group showed improved diversity of gut bacteria and changes in genetic function, with no safety concerns, but the treatment did not clearly reduce ulcerative colitis symptoms.

Practical Takeaway

This early human trial suggests hydrogen inhalation is safe and may alter gut bacteria in ways that could be beneficial, but it did not improve ulcerative colitis symptoms on its own. The small sample size and lack of symptom improvement mean much more research is needed before hydrogen can be recommended as a standalone treatment. The authors suggest it might eventually work better when combined with other microbiome therapies.

Abstract

Background/Objective: Dysbiosis is implicated in the pathogenesis of ulcerative colitis. Hydrogen has been reported to promote intestinal microbiota diversity and suppress ulcerative colitis progression in mice models. In this study, we investigated changes in the intestinal microbiota, therapeutic effects, and safety of hydrogen inhalation in patients with ulcerative colitis. Methods: In this randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, 10 active patients with ulcerative colitis (aged ≥20 years; Lichtiger's clinical activity index, 3-10; and Mayo endoscopic subscores ≥1) participated, and they were assigned to either a hydrogen or air inhalation group (hydrogen and placebo groups, respectively). All patients inhaled gas for 4 h every day for 8 weeks. Subsequently, we performed clinical indices and microbiota analyses using the metagenomic sequencing of stool samples before and after inhalation. Results: There was significant difference in the sum of the Mayo endoscopic subscores before and after inhalation in the clinical assessment indices. The hydrogen group showed higher α-diversity (p = 0.19), and the variation in β-diversity was markedly different, compared to the placebo group, in intestinal microbiota analysis (p = 0.02). Functional gene analysis revealed 115 significant genetic changes in the hydrogen group following treatment. No inhalation-related adverse events were observed. Conclusions: Hydrogen inhalation appeared to improve intestinal microbiota diversity; however, no clear therapeutic effect on ulcerative colitis was observed. Further studies are needed, and hydrogen inhalation may possibly lead to a logical solution combined with microbiome therapy, such as faecal microbiota transplantation, with fewer adverse events.