Hydrogen Gas Inhalation May Reduce Spinal Cord Injury in Mice
Inhalation of Hydrogen of Different Concentrations Ameliorates Spinal Cord Injury in Mice by Protecting Spinal Cord Neurons from Apoptosis, Oxidative Injury and Mitochondrial Structure Damages
Research hubs: Brain & Nervous System
This research was done in animals. Results in animals often don't carry over to people.
- Evidence type
- Animal study (mouse)
- Authors
- Xiao Chen, Jin Cui, Xiao Zhai, Jun Zhang, Zhengrong Gu, Xin Zhi, Weizong Weng, Panpan Pan, Liehu Cao, Fang Ji, Zhiwei Wang, Jiacan Su
- Journal
- Cellular Physiology and Biochemistry
- Year
- 2018
- PMID
- 29763919
- Study Type
- Mouse
- Delivery
- Gas
- Dose
- Hydrogen inhalation at 75% concentration for 42 days after spinal cord contusion injury
- H₂ concentration
- 75%
- Duration
- 6 weeks
- Outcome
- Positive
- Peer Reviewed
- Yes
- Cited by
- 64 (OpenAlex, as of November 2026)
- Country
- China
TL;DR
Breathing in hydrogen gas can help reduce damage and improve recovery in mice with spinal cord injuries by targeting harmful molecules and preserving nerve cell health.
Key Finding
Hydrogen gas inhalation at 75% concentration reduced nerve cell death, decreased harmful oxidative damage, and preserved mitochondrial function in mice with spinal cord injuries, leading to improved movement and walking ability.
Summary
Researchers tested whether breathing hydrogen gas could help repair spinal cord injuries in mice. They found that hydrogen gas reduced damage to nerve cells by decreasing harmful molecules called reactive oxygen species, preventing cell death, and protecting the energy-producing structures inside cells called mitochondria. Mice that breathed hydrogen gas showed improved movement and walking ability after spinal cord injury compared to untreated mice.
Practical Takeaway
This study provides early evidence that hydrogen gas may protect nerve cells from injury-related damage in spinal cord trauma, but it was conducted only in mice. Much more research, including human trials, would be needed before hydrogen therapy could be considered a treatment option for spinal cord injury in people.
Abstract (excerpt)
Background/aims: Hydrogen selectively neutralizes reactive oxygen species (ROS) and ameliorates various ROS-induced injuries. Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a serious injury to the central nervous system, and secondary SCI is closely related to excessive ROS generation. We hypothesized that hydrogen…