Hydrogen Gas Protects Brain After Stroke in Rats
Hydrogen Inhalation Attenuates Oxidative Stress Related Endothelial Cells Injury After Subarachnoid Hemorrhage in Rats
Research hubs: Brain & Nervous System · Cardiovascular System
This research was done in animals. Results in animals often don't carry over to people.
- Evidence type
- Animal study (rat)
- Authors
- Kai Zhuang, Yu-Chun Zuo, Prativa Sherchan, Ji-Kai Wang, Xiao-Xin Yan, Fei Liu
- Journal
- Frontiers in Neuroscience
- Year
- 2020
- PMID
- 32038143
- Study Type
- Rat
- Participants
- 182
- Delivery
- Gas
- Dose
- 3.3% H2 inhaled beginning at 0.5 h after SAH for 30, 60 or 120 min, followed by single administration or once daily administration for 3 days
- H₂ concentration
- 3.3% H2 gas
- Duration
- 3 days
- Outcome
- Positive
- Peer Reviewed
- Yes
- Cited by
- 39 (OpenAlex, as of November 2026)
- Country
- China
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…