Hydrogen Therapy Shows Promise for Treating Heart Disease
- Authors
- Kwannapas Saengsin, Rekwan Sittiwangkul, Siriporn C. Chattipakorn, Nipon Chattipakorn
- Journal
- Cellular and Molecular Life Sciences
- Year
- 2023
- DOI
- 10.1007/s00018-023-04818-4
- Study Type
- clinical
- Peer Reviewed
- Yes
- Country
- Thailand
- Health Condition
- Cardiovascular Disease
- Body System
- Cardiovascular
TL;DR
Scientists found that a tiny gas called hydrogen might help protect hearts from damage by reducing inflammation and stress inside cells, which could lead to new treatments for heart disease in the future.
Key Finding
Molecular hydrogen shows potential cardioprotective effects through antioxidant and anti-inflammatory mechanisms across multiple cardiovascular conditions, though the exact cellular mechanisms remain unclear.
Summary
This review examined research on molecular hydrogen—a small, colorless gas—as a potential treatment for heart disease. Scientists have found that hydrogen may help protect the heart by reducing harmful chemical reactions (oxidative stress) and inflammation, and it can be delivered through drinking hydrogen-rich water, inhaling it, or other methods. The review summarized evidence from laboratory studies, animal studies, and some human research, suggesting hydrogen might help with conditions like heart attacks, atherosclerosis (clogged arteries), and heart damage from cancer treatments, though the exact way it works in cells is still not fully understood.
Practical Takeaway
While this review suggests hydrogen therapy may have promise for heart health, it is a summary of existing research rather than a definitive clinical study. Most evidence comes from laboratory and animal studies; human clinical evidence is limited. Anyone interested in hydrogen water for cardiovascular health should consult their doctor, as more rigorous human trials are needed before hydrogen can be recommended as a standard treatment.
Abstract
Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of mortality worldwide. Excessive oxidative stress and inflammation play an important role in the development and progression of cardiovascular disease. Molecular hydrogen, a small colorless and odorless molecule, is considered harmless in daily life when its concentration is below 4% at room temperature. Owing to the small size of the hydrogen molecule, it can easily penetrate the cell membrane and can be metabolized without residue. Molecular hydrogen can be administered through inhalation, the drinking of hydrogen-rich water, injection with hydrogen-rich-saline, and bathing of an organ in a preservative solution. The utilization of molecular hydrogen has shown many benefits and can be effective for a wide range of purposes, from prevention to the treatment of diseases. It has been demonstrated that molecular hydrogen exerts antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antiapoptotic effects, leading to cardioprotective benefits. Nevertheless, the exact intracellular mechanisms of its action are still unclear. In this review, evidence of the potential benefits of hydrogen molecules obtained from in vitro, in vivo, and clinical investigations are comprehensively summarized and discussed with a focus on the cardiovascular aspects. The potential mechanisms involved in the protective effects of molecular hydrogen are also presented. These findings suggest that molecular hydrogen could be used as a novel treatment in various cardiovascular pathologies, including ischemic-reperfusion injury, cardiac injury from radiation, atherosclerosis, chemotherapy-induced cardiotoxicity, and cardiac hypertrophy.