How Hydrogen Therapy Works Through Mitochondria to Fight Disease
- Authors
- Xiaoyue Zhang, Fei Xie, Shiwen Ma, Chen Ma, Xue Jiang, Yang Yi, Yifei Song, Mengyu Liu, Pengxiang Zhao, Xuemei Ma
- Journal
- Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology
- Year
- 2023
- DOI
- 10.3389/fcell.2023.1283820
- Study Type
- clinical
- Peer Reviewed
- Yes
- Country
- China
- Health Condition
- Cardiovascular Disease
- Body System
- Cardiovascular
TL;DR
Scientists found that a gas called molecular hydrogen (H2) could be really good at fighting damage in our cells by working with mitochondria, the tiny parts of cells that give them energy. This matters because if H2 actually works this way, it could help treat lots of diseases like heart problems, brain diseases, and cancer.
Key Finding
Molecular hydrogen appears to exert its biological effects primarily through mitochondrial pathways, including regulation of reactive oxygen species and mitochondrial quality control mechanisms.
Summary
This review article examines how molecular hydrogen (H2), a simple gas with antioxidant properties, affects mitochondria—the energy-producing structures inside cells. The authors summarize existing research showing that H2 may influence how mitochondria produce energy, manage harmful molecules called reactive oxygen species, and control their own quality. The review proposes that H2 works primarily through mitochondrial pathways and could potentially help with various diseases, though the exact mechanisms are still being studied.
Practical Takeaway
This is a review article summarizing existing research rather than a new study with human participants, so it cannot establish what hydrogen water does in people. While the review suggests H2 may have therapeutic potential for various diseases through mitochondrial effects, this is based on preliminary research in animals and cells, not human trials. More direct human studies are needed before any health claims can be made.
Abstract
As a novel antioxidant, a growing body of studies has documented the diverse biological effects of molecular hydrogen (H2) in a wide range of organisms, spanning animals, plants, and microorganisms. Although several possible mechanisms have been proposed, they cannot fully explain the extensive biological effects of H2. Mitochondria, known for ATP production, also play crucial roles in diverse cellular functions, including Ca2+ signaling, regulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, apoptosis, proliferation, and lipid transport, while their dysfunction is implicated in a broad spectrum of diseases, including cardiovascular disorders, neurodegenerative conditions, metabolic disorders, and cancer. This review aims to 1) summarize the experimental evidence on the impact of H2 on mitochondrial function; 2) provide an overview of the mitochondrial pathways underlying the biological effects of H2, and 3) discuss H2 metabolism in eukaryotic organisms and its relationship with mitochondria. Moreover, based on previous findings, this review proposes that H2 may regulate mitochondrial quality control through diverse pathways in response to varying degrees of mitochondrial damage. By combining the existing research evidence with an evolutionary perspective, this review emphasizes the potential hydrogenase activity in mitochondria of higher plants and animals. Finally, this review also addresses potential issues in the current mechanistic study and offers insights into future research directions, aiming to provide a reference for future studies on the mechanisms underlying the action of H2.