Hydrogen Therapy Improves Recovery from Severe Brain Hemorrhage
- Authors
- Satoru Takeuchi, Kosuke Kumagai, Terushige Toyooka, Naoki Otani, Kojiro Wada, Kentaro Mori
- Journal
- Stroke
- Year
- 2021
- DOI
- 10.1161/STROKEAHA.120.031260
- Study Type
- Human
- Outcome
- Positive
- Peer Reviewed
- Yes
- Country
- Japan
- Health Condition
- Subarachnoid Hemorrhage
- Body System
- Neurological
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
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 patients with poor-grade subarachnoid hemorrhage were randomized to Mg+H 2 , Mg, and control groups. Mg and Mg+H 2 groups received intracisternal magnesium sulfate infusion (2.5 mmol/L) at 20 mL/h for 14 days. Mg+H 2 group also received intravenous hydrogen-rich solution infusion for 14 days. Primary outcome measures were occurrence of delayed cerebral ischemia and cerebral vasospasm. Secondary outcome measures were modified Rankin Scale and Karnofsky performance status at 3 and 12 months, Barthel index at 12 months, and serum and cerebrospinal fluid malondialdehyde and neuron-specific enolase. Results: Serum neuron-specific enolase levels were significantly lower in the Mg+H 2 group from days 3 to 14 than in the control group. Cerebrospinal fluid neuron-specific enolase levels were also significantly lower in the Mg+H 2 group from days 3 to 7 than in the control group. Incidences of cerebral vasospasm and delayed cerebral ischemia were significantly higher in the control group than in other groups. Modified Rankin Scale and Karnofsky performance status did not significantly differ between the three groups at 3 months. Modified Rankin Scale scores 0 to 2 were more common in the Mg and Mg+H 2 groups at 1 year. Barthel index was higher in the Mg+H 2 group than in the control group. Conclusions: Intracisternal magnesium sulfate infusion started immediately after surgery reduces the incidence of cerebral vasospasm and delayed cerebral ischemia and improves clinical outcomes without complications in patients with poor-grade subarachnoid hemorrhage. Intracisternal magnesium sulfate infusion combined with intravenous hydrogen therapy decreases serum malondialdehyde and neuron-specific enolase and improves Barthel index, indicating hydrogen has additional effects. Registration: URL: https://www.umin.ac.jp/ctr/index.htm . Unique identifier: UMIN000014696.