Hydrogen Gas Protects Brain After Stroke in Rats
- Authors
- Kai Zhuang, Yu-Chun Zuo, Prativa Sherchan, Ji-Kai Wang, Xiao-Xin Yan, Fei Liu
- Journal
- Frontiers in Neuroscience
- Year
- 2020
- DOI
- 10.3389/fnins.2019.01441
- Study Type
- Rat
- Outcome
- Positive
- Peer Reviewed
- Yes
- Country
- China
- Health Condition
- Subarachnoid Hemorrhage
- Body System
- Nervous System
TL;DR
Inhaling hydrogen gas can reduce brain damage and improve recovery in rats after a type of stroke caused by bleeding in the brain.
Key Finding
Hydrogen inhalation at 3.3% concentration reduced brain damage, swelling, and blood clots while improving neurological recovery in rats with subarachnoid hemorrhage, apparently by reducing harmful free radicals and inflammatory responses.
Summary
Researchers tested whether inhaling hydrogen gas could protect the brain after a type of stroke called subarachnoid hemorrhage in rats. They found that hydrogen inhalation reduced brain swelling, blood clots in small vessels, and improved recovery by decreasing harmful molecules called free radicals and reducing inflammation in blood vessel cells.
Practical Takeaway
This rat study suggests hydrogen inhalation may have protective effects against brain injury from a specific type of stroke, but it is early-stage research in animals only. Human studies would be needed to determine if these benefits apply to people, and this should not be considered a treatment for stroke at this time.
Abstract (excerpt)
Background: Subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) is a devastating cerebrovascular disease with poor clinical outcome. Nucleotide binding and oligomerization domain-like receptor family pyrin domain-containing 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome serves a key role in inflammatory response, which may lead to endothelial…