Hydrogen Therapy Improves Recovery from Severe Brain Hemorrhage
Intravenous Hydrogen Therapy With Intracisternal Magnesium Sulfate Infusion in Severe Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage
Research hubs: Brain & Nervous System · Cardiovascular System
- Evidence type
- Randomized controlled trial · Human study
- Authors
- Satoru Takeuchi, Kosuke Kumagai, Terushige Toyooka, Naoki Otani, Kojiro Wada, Kentaro Mori
- Journal
- Stroke
- Year
- 2021
- PMID
- 33349011
- Study Type
- Human
- Participants
- 37
- Delivery
- Solution (Electrolysis)
- Dose
- intravenous hydrogen-rich solution infusion for 14 days
- Duration
- 2 weeks
- Outcome
- Positive
- Peer Reviewed
- Yes
- Cited by
- 53 (OpenAlex, as of November 2026)
- Country
- Japan
TL;DR
A study found that treating patients with severe brain bleeding using a combination of magnesium sulfate and hydrogen therapies can reduce complications and improve recovery.
Key Finding
Patients who received intravenous hydrogen therapy combined with magnesium treatment showed significantly lower brain damage markers and better functional recovery at one year compared to those receiving standard care alone.
Summary
This study tested whether adding hydrogen-rich solution to standard magnesium treatment could help patients recovering from a severe type of brain bleed called subarachnoid hemorrhage. Thirty-seven patients received either magnesium alone, magnesium plus hydrogen therapy, or standard care. The group receiving both treatments showed lower levels of brain damage markers in their blood and cerebrospinal fluid (fluid around the brain), fewer complications from blood vessel narrowing, and better long-term functional recovery compared to the control group.
Practical Takeaway
This small human study suggests hydrogen therapy may have additional protective effects when combined with magnesium treatment for severe brain hemorrhage, but the findings are from a single trial with only 37 patients. The treatment was delivered intravenously in a hospital setting under medical supervision, not as a consumer hydrogen water product. More research is needed to confirm these results and determine if hydrogen water has similar benefits.
Abstract (excerpt)
Background and Purpose: Poor-grade subarachnoid hemorrhage still has a poor prognosis. This randomized controlled clinical trial evaluated intracisternal magnesium sulfate infusion combined with intravenous hydrogen therapy in patients with poor-grade subarachnoid hemorrhage. Methods: Thirty-seven…