Hydrogen Therapy Under Pressure Reduces Brain Damage After Head Injury
- Authors
- Yohei Otsuka, Satoshi Tomura, Terushige Toyooka, Satoru Takeuchi, Arata Tomiyama, Tomoko Omura, Daizoh Saito, Kojiro Wada
- Journal
- Undersea & Hyperbaric Medicine
- Year
- 2023
- Study Type
- Mouse
- Outcome
- Positive
- Peer Reviewed
- Yes
- Country
- Japan
- Health Condition
- Traumatic Brain Injury
- Body System
- Nervous System
TL;DR
Treating mice with high-pressure hydrogen gas after a brain injury reduced brain swelling, protected brain cells, and improved behavior and cognitive functions.
Key Finding
Mice with traumatic brain injuries treated with hyperbaric hydrogen therapy showed significantly less brain swelling, preserved more brain cells in the hippocampus, and demonstrated improved neurological function compared to untreated injured mice.
Summary
Researchers gave mice with traumatic brain injuries (TBI) hyperbaric hydrogen therapy—breathing hydrogen gas at increased atmospheric pressure—within 30 minutes of injury. Compared to injured mice that received no treatment, those receiving the therapy showed less brain swelling, better survival of brain cells in the memory region (hippocampus), and improved neurological function. The results suggest that hydrogen therapy may help reduce the secondary damage that occurs after the initial brain injury.
Practical Takeaway
This is an early-stage animal study showing potential promise for hyperbaric hydrogen therapy in brain injury recovery. However, these results are from mice, not humans, and the therapy was administered in a controlled medical setting within 30 minutes of injury—conditions that may not translate directly to real-world use. More research in humans would be needed before drawing conclusions about practical applications.
Abstract
Background: The pathophysiology of traumatic brain injury (TBI) is caused by the initial physical damage and by the subsequent biochemical damage (secondary brain injury). Oxidative stress is deeply involved in secondary brain injury, so molecular hydrogen therapy may be effective for TBI. Hydrogen gas shows the optimal effect at concentrations of 2% or higher, but can only be used up to 1.3% in the form of a gas cylinder mixed with oxygen gas, which may not be sufficiently effective. The partial pressure of hydrogen increases in proportion to the pressure, so hyperbaric hydrogen therapy (HBH2) is more effective than that at atmospheric pressure. Methods: A total of 120 mice were divided into three groups: TBI + non-treatment group (TBI group; n = 40), TBI + HBH2 group (n = 40), and non-TBI + non-treatment group (sham group; n = 40). The TBI and TBI + HBH2 groups were subjected to moderate cerebral contusion induced by controlled cortical impact. The TBI + HBH2 group received hyperbaric hydrogen therapy at 2 atmospheres for 90 minutes, at 30 minutes after TBI. Brain edema, neuronal cell loss in the injured hippocampus, neurological function, and cognitive function were evaluated. Results: The TBI + HBH2 group showed significantly less cerebral edema (p ≺ 0.05). Residual hippocampal neurons were significantly more numerous in the TBI + HBH2 group on day 28 (p ≺ 0.05). Neurological score and behavioral tests showed that the TBI + HBH2 group had significantly reduced hyperactivity on day 14 (p ≺ 0.01). Conclusion: Hyperbaric hydrogen therapy may be effective for posttraumatic secondary brain injury.