Hydrogen Gas Prevents Sun Damage and Skin Aging in Mice Study
- Authors
- Takeshi Kiyoi, Shuang Liu, Erika Takemasa, Naohito Hato, Masaki Mogi
- Journal
- Geriatrics & Gerontology International
- Year
- 2023
- DOI
- 10.1111/ggi.14562
- Study Type
- Mouse
- Outcome
- Positive
- Peer Reviewed
- Yes
- Country
- Japan
- Health Condition
- Photoaging
- Body System
- Integumentary
TL;DR
Breathing in hydrogen gas intermittently can help protect against skin aging and damage caused by ultraviolet light.
Key Finding
Intermittent exposure to hydrogen gas at night prevented UV-induced skin aging in mice, including reduced skin thickening, collagen damage, and DNA damage compared to mice exposed to UV without hydrogen.
Summary
Researchers exposed mice to ultraviolet A (UVA) light during the day and hydrogen gas at night for 6 weeks to mimic a human daily routine. Mice that breathed hydrogen gas showed less skin damage from UV exposure compared to mice breathing normal air, including less thickening of skin layers, less collagen breakdown, and fewer signs of aging cells. The researchers believe hydrogen gas reduced harmful molecules (free radicals) that UV light creates in skin.
Practical Takeaway
This is an early-stage animal study suggesting hydrogen gas inhalation may help protect skin from UV damage, but it was conducted only in mice under controlled laboratory conditions. Human studies would be needed to determine if these results apply to people, and the practical feasibility of using hydrogen gas this way in daily life remains unclear.
Abstract
Aim: Molecular hydrogen is not only expected to be used as an energy-generating resource, but also to have preventive effects on a variety of clinical manifestations related to oxidative stress through scavenging radicals or regulating gene expression. In the current study, we investigated the influence of intermittent environmental exposure to hydrogen gas at a safe concentration (1.3%) on photoaging using an ultraviolet A (UVA)-irradiated murine model. Methods: To mimic the expected human daily activity cycle, UVA exposure in the daytime and hydrogen exposure in the night-time, an original design, UVA-transmission, hydrogen-exposure system was established. Mice were bred under experimental conditions of UVA irradiation and normal air for 8 h (outdoor time 09.00-17.00 hours), and UVA non-irradiation and inhalation of hydrogen gas for 16 h (indoor time 17.00-09.00 hours), and the daily cycle was continued for up to 6 weeks. The progression of photoaging, including morphological changes, collagen degradation and UVA-related DNA damage, was evaluated. Results: Intermittent administration of hydrogen gas by our system prevented UVA-induced epidermal signs, such as hyperplasia, melanogenesis and appearance of senescence cells, and UVA-induced dermal signs, such as collagen degradation. In addition, we detected attenuation of DNA damage in the hydrogen exposure group as indirect evidence that intermittent exposure to hydrogen gas reduced oxidative stress. Conclusions: Our findings support the notion that long-term, intermittent environmental exposure to hydrogen gas in daily life has a beneficial effect on UVA-induced photoaging. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2023; 23: 304-312.