Hydrogen Gas Protects Hearing from Chemo Drug Damage in Mice
Hydrogen protects auditory hair cells from cisplatin-induced free radicals
Research hubs: Brain & Nervous System
This research was done on cells or tissue in a lab, not in people or animals.
- Evidence type
- Laboratory study (cells or tissue)
- Authors
- Yayoi S. Kikkawa, Takayuki Nakagawa, Mirei Taniguchi, Juichi Ito
- Journal
- Neuroscience Letters
- Year
- 2014
- PMID
- 25064701
- Study Type
- Mouse
- Delivery
- Saline (Dissolved)
- Dose
- hydrogen gas dissolved directly into the media
- Duration
- 2 days
- Outcome
- Positive
- Peer Reviewed
- Yes
- Cited by
- 35 (OpenAlex, as of November 2026)
- Country
- Japan
TL;DR
Breathing in molecular hydrogen gas can help protect the hearing cells in the ear from damage caused by a common cancer drug.
Key Finding
Molecular hydrogen gas reduced cisplatin-induced auditory hair cell loss and decreased harmful free radical formation in mouse cochlear tissue.
Summary
Cisplatin is a cancer drug that can damage hearing by creating harmful molecules called free radicals in the inner ear. Researchers tested whether molecular hydrogen (hydrogen gas dissolved in liquid) could protect auditory hair cells—the cells responsible for hearing—from cisplatin damage in mouse ear tissue. Hydrogen gas significantly reduced hair cell loss and lowered the levels of harmful free radicals, suggesting it might help preserve hearing in cancer patients receiving cisplatin treatment.
Practical Takeaway
This is an early laboratory study in mouse tissue, not human testing. While the results are promising and suggest hydrogen may have protective potential against cisplatin-related hearing damage, much more research—including human trials—would be needed before any clinical application. The findings are too preliminary to inform personal health decisions about hydrogen water or hydrogen therapy at this time.
Abstract (excerpt)
Cisplatin is a widely used chemotherapeutic agent for the treatment of various malignancies. However, its maximum dose is often limited by severe ototoxicity. Cisplatin ototoxicity may require the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the inner ear by activating enzymes specific…