Hydrogen Gas Helps Heal Pressure Sores in Mice
- Authors
- Wei Fang, Guizhen Wang, Luyan Tang, Huilin Su, Huyan Chen, Wanqing Liao, Jinhua Xu
- Journal
- Journal of Cellular and Molecular Medicine
- Year
- 2018
- DOI
- 10.1111/jcmm.13704
- Study Type
- Mouse
- Outcome
- Positive
- Peer Reviewed
- Yes
- Country
- China
- Health Condition
- Pressure Ulcers
- Body System
- Integumentary
TL;DR
Breathing in molecular hydrogen gas can help reduce the size and severity of pressure ulcers (bedsores) by protecting the skin and reducing inflammation.
Key Finding
Hydrogen gas inhalation significantly reduced pressure ulcer formation in mice by decreasing oxidative stress (cellular damage from harmful molecules), suppressing inflammatory responses, and promoting wound healing factors.
Summary
Researchers tested whether breathing hydrogen gas could help prevent pressure ulcers (severe skin wounds caused by prolonged pressure) in mice. They found that hydrogen gas inhalation reduced wound size, decreased DNA damage and cell death in skin tissue, lowered harmful molecules called free radicals, and reduced inflammation while boosting the skin's natural healing processes.
Practical Takeaway
While this mouse study suggests hydrogen gas may help protect against pressure ulcer formation through multiple protective mechanisms, it is early-stage research that has not yet been tested in humans. The findings are promising but cannot yet be applied to human pressure ulcer prevention or treatment without further clinical studies.
Abstract (excerpt)
AbstractPressure ulcer formation depends on various factors among which repetitive ischaemia/reperfusion(I/R) injury plays a vital role. Molecular hydrogen (H2) was reported to have protective effects on I/R injuries of various internal organs. In this study, we investigated the effects of H2…