Hydrogen Gas Helps Brain Recovery After Head Injury in Rats
Hydrogen Gas Treatment Improves the Neurological Outcome After Traumatic Brain Injury Via Increasing miR-21 Expression
Research hubs: Brain & Nervous System
This research was done in animals. Results in animals often don't carry over to people.
- Evidence type
- Animal study (rat)
- Authors
- Lu Wang, Chongfa Zhao, Shuang Wu, Guanghui Xiao, Xin Zhuge, Ping Lei, Ke-Liang Xie
- Journal
- Shock
- Year
- 2018
- PMID
- 29028768
- Study Type
- Rat
- Delivery
- Gas
- Dose
- 2% H2 exposure from 30 min to 5 h after TBI operation
- H₂ concentration
- 2% H2 gas
- Outcome
- Positive
- Peer Reviewed
- Yes
- Cited by
- 37 (OpenAlex, as of November 2026)
- Country
- China
TL;DR
Hydrogen gas treatment helps improve brain function after a traumatic brain injury by boosting levels of a beneficial molecule called miR-21.
Key Finding
Hydrogen gas treatment improved neurological outcomes after traumatic brain injury in rats by increasing microRNA-21 expression, which reduced brain swelling, decreased lesion size, and enhanced the brain's natural antioxidant defenses.
Summary
This rat study tested whether hydrogen gas could help recovery from traumatic brain injury (TBI) by increasing a molecule called microRNA-21 (miR-21). Rats with brain injuries were exposed to hydrogen gas, and researchers found that hydrogen increased miR-21 levels in the brain and improved neurological function, reduced brain swelling, and decreased brain damage. When researchers blocked miR-21, hydrogen's protective effects disappeared, suggesting that miR-21 is essential for hydrogen's benefits.
Practical Takeaway
This is an early-stage animal study showing a potential mechanism by which hydrogen gas might help brain injury recovery. However, it was conducted only in rats, and the results do not yet indicate whether hydrogen would be effective or safe in humans with brain injuries. Much more research, including human clinical trials, would be needed before any therapeutic recommendations could be made.
Abstract (excerpt)
Hydrogen gas (H2) exerts a beneficial effect against traumatic brain injury (TBI). microRNA-21 (miR-21) is one of the most highly expressed members of small non-coding microRNA family in mammalian cells. miR-21 can improve the neurological outcome after TBI. In the present study, we investigated…