Hydrogen Gas Protects Brain from Sepsis Damage in Mice Study
Inhalation of hydrogen gas attenuates brain injury in mice with cecal ligation and puncture via inhibiting neuroinflammation, oxidative stress and neuronal apoptosis
Research hubs: Brain & Nervous System · Immune System
This research was done in animals. Results in animals often don't carry over to people.
- Evidence type
- Animal study (mouse)
- Authors
- Lingling Liu, Keliang Xie, Hongguang Chen, Xiaoqing Dong, Yuan Li, Yang Yu, Guolin Wang, Yong-Hao Yu
- Journal
- Brain Research
- Year
- 2014
- PMID
- 25251596
- Study Type
- Mouse
- Delivery
- Gas
- Dose
- 2% H2 inhaled for 60 minutes at 1 hour and 6 hours after CLP or sham operation
- H₂ concentration
- 2% H2 gas
- Duration
- 2 weeks
- Outcome
- Positive
- Peer Reviewed
- Yes
- Cited by
- 108 (OpenAlex, as of November 2026)
- Country
- China
TL;DR
Inhaling hydrogen gas significantly improved survival and brain function in mice with sepsis-related brain injury.
Key Finding
Inhaling 2% hydrogen gas improved survival rates and protected brain function in septic mice by reducing inflammation, oxidative stress, and brain cell death.
Summary
This study tested whether inhaling hydrogen gas could protect the brain during sepsis (a life-threatening infection) in mice. Researchers gave mice a severe infection and then had them breathe 2% hydrogen gas for one hour at two different times. Compared to untreated infected mice, those that inhaled hydrogen gas had better survival rates, less brain damage, better memory and learning, and reduced swelling in the brain. The protective effects appeared to work by reducing inflammation, decreasing harmful molecules called oxidative stress, and preventing brain cell death.
Practical Takeaway
While this mouse study suggests hydrogen gas inhalation may help protect the brain during severe infections, these results cannot yet be applied to humans. The findings are early-stage and would need to be tested in human clinical trials before any therapeutic use could be recommended. The study also did not report details about sample size or treatment timing, which limits how much can be concluded from these results.
Abstract (excerpt)
During the development of sepsis, the complication in central nervous system (CNS), appearing early and frequently relative to other systems, can obviously increase the mortality of sepsis. Moreover, sepsis survivors also accompany long-term cognitive dysfunction, while the ultimate causes…