Hydrogen Gas in Rats with Oxygen Lung Injury
Hydrogen gas reduces hyperoxic lung injury via the Nrf2 pathway in vivo
Research hubs: Respiratory System
This research was done in animals. Results in animals often don't carry over to people.
- Evidence type
- Animal study (rat)
- Authors
- Tomohiro Kawamura, Nobunao Wakabayashi, Norihisa Shigemura, Chien-Sheng Huang, Kosuke Masutani, Yugo Tanaka, Kentaro Noda, Ximei Peng, Toru Takahashi, Timothy R. Billiar, Meinoshin Okumura, Yoshiya Toyoda, Thomas W. Kensler, Atsunori Nakao
- Journal
- American Journal of Physiology-Lung Cellular and Molecular Physiology
- Year
- 2013
- PMID
- 23475767
- Study Type
- Rat
- Delivery
- Gas
- Dose
- 2% hydrogen gas mixture for 60 hours
- H₂ concentration
- 2% H2 gas
- Duration
- 3 days
- Outcome
- Positive
- Peer Reviewed
- Yes
- Cited by
- 173 (OpenAlex, as of November 2026)
- Country
- United States
TL;DR
Breathing in hydrogen gas can help reduce lung damage caused by high levels of oxygen in critically ill patients, through a protective mechanism that involves specific genes.
Key Finding
Inhaled hydrogen gas significantly reduced lung damage from high oxygen exposure in rats by activating a protective pathway involving the Nrf2 protein and heme oxygenase-1.
Summary
Researchers exposed rats to high concentrations of oxygen (which can damage the lungs) and tested whether inhaled hydrogen gas could help protect against this injury. Rats that received hydrogen along with high oxygen showed better blood oxygen levels, less inflammation, and activation of a protective protein called heme oxygenase-1. When researchers tested this in mice lacking a key protein called Nrf2, hydrogen no longer provided protection, showing that this protein is essential for hydrogen's protective effect.
Practical Takeaway
This animal study suggests hydrogen gas may have potential as a medical treatment for oxygen-related lung injury in critically ill patients, though human studies would be needed to determine if these results apply to people. The findings are limited to laboratory rats and do not yet indicate whether hydrogen water (consumed orally) would have similar effects.
Abstract (excerpt)
Hyperoxic lung injury is a major concern in critically ill patients who receive high concentrations of oxygen to treat lung diseases. Successful abrogation of hyperoxic lung injury would have a huge impact on respiratory and critical care medicine. Hydrogen can be administered as a therapeutic…