Hydrogen Therapy Shows Promise for Brain Diseases and Stroke Recovery
- Authors
- Cheng-Lin Liu, Kai Zhang, Gang Chen
- Journal
- Medical Gas Research
- Year
- 2016
- DOI
- 10.4103/2045-9912.179346
- Study Type
- clinical
- Peer Reviewed
- Yes
- Country
- China
- Health Condition
- Stroke
- Body System
- Nervous System
TL;DR
Scientists found that breathing in hydrogen gas can protect your brain from damage caused by stroke, brain injuries, and diseases like Alzheimer's by fighting off harmful chemicals called free radicals. This matters because it could lead to new treatments for serious brain problems that don't have good cures right now.
Key Finding
Hydrogen inhalation appears to protect brain tissue through three main mechanisms: reducing oxidative stress, decreasing inflammation, and preventing cell death (apoptosis).
Summary
This review article examines research on hydrogen therapy—specifically inhaling hydrogen gas—and how it might help treat brain diseases. Studies show that hydrogen can reduce damage from oxidative stress (harmful chemical reactions in cells) by targeting specific damaging molecules called free radicals. The review focuses on potential applications for stroke, traumatic brain injury, and neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease, while considering how hydrogen crosses the blood-brain barrier (the protective layer around the brain) and its safety profile.
Practical Takeaway
While this review summarizes promising laboratory and animal research on hydrogen for brain diseases, it does not present new human clinical trial data. Most evidence comes from animal studies and laboratory experiments, so it remains unclear whether these benefits would translate to humans. Anyone interested in hydrogen therapy should await results from rigorous human clinical trials before considering it for medical purposes.
Abstract
The medicinal value of hydrogen (H 2 ) was ignored prior to research illustrating that inhalation of 2% H 2 can significantly decrease the damage of cerebral ischemia/reperfusion caused by oxidative stress via selective elimination of hydroxyl freebase (OH) and peroxynitrite anion (ONOOˉ). Subsequently, there have been numerous experiments on H 2 . Most research and trials involving the mechanisms underlying H 2 therapy show the effects of antioxygenation, anti-inflammation, and anti-apoptosis. Among quantities of diseases related with H 2 therapy, the brain disease is a hotspot as brain tissue and cell damage are easier to be induced by oxidative stress and other stimulations. In this review, emphasis is on stroke, traumatic brain injuries, and degenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer′s disease and Parkinson′s disease. Taking into account the blood-brain barrier, penetrability, possible side effects, and the molecular properties of H 2 within a single comprehensive review should contribute to advancing both clinical and non-clinical research and therapies. A systematic introduction of H 2 therapy with regards to mechanisms and cerebral diseases both in animal and human subjects can make it easier to comprehend H 2 therapy and therefore provide the basis for further clinical strategy.