Hydrogen Gas Reduces Airway Inflammation in Asthma and COPD Patients
Hydrogen gas (XEN) inhalation ameliorates airway inflammation in asthma and COPD patients
Research hubs: Respiratory System
- Evidence type
- Uncontrolled trial (single-arm or pilot) · Human study
- Authors
- S -T Wang, C Bao, Y He, X Tian, Y Yang, T Zhang, K -F Xu
- Journal
- QJM: An International Journal of Medicine
- Year
- 2020
- PMID
- 32407476
- Study Type
- Human
- Participants
- 20
- Delivery
- Gas
- Dose
- 2.4% hydrogen containing steam mixed gas inhaled once for 45 minutes
- H₂ concentration
- 2.4% H2 gas
- Duration
- 1 day or less
- Funding
- National Key Research and Development Program of China (2018YFC1313600); National Key Basic Research Program of China (973 Program) (2015CB553402)
- Conflicts of interest
- None declared
- Outcome
- Positive
- Peer Reviewed
- Yes
- Cited by
- 55 (OpenAlex, as of November 2026)
- Country
- China
TL;DR
Breathing in hydrogen-rich steam for 45 minutes reduced signs of inflammation in the airways of people with asthma and COPD.
Key Finding
A single 45-minute inhalation of 2.4% hydrogen gas reduced multiple airway inflammation markers in both asthma and COPD patients, including MCP-1 in both groups and IL-8 in asthma patients.
Summary
Researchers tested whether inhaling a mixture containing 2.4% hydrogen gas for 45 minutes could reduce airway inflammation in patients with asthma and COPD (a lung disease that makes breathing difficult). They measured inflammatory markers (chemical signals that indicate inflammation) in the blood and breath before and after the treatment. The hydrogen inhalation reduced several inflammation markers in both groups, suggesting it may have anti-inflammatory effects in the airways.
Practical Takeaway
This small human study suggests hydrogen gas inhalation may have acute anti-inflammatory effects in people with asthma and COPD. However, this was a single short treatment in only 20 patients total, so it's unclear whether repeated use would be beneficial or safe long-term. More research is needed before this could be considered a practical therapy.
Abstract (excerpt)
Summary Background Hydrogen was proven to have anti-oxidative and anti-inflammation effects to various diseases. Aim We wish to investigate the acute effects of inhaled hydrogen on airway inflammation in patients with asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Design Prospective…