Hydrogen Gas Shows Promise as Selective Antioxidant Medical Treatment
- Authors
- Jinqi Li, Yan Zang, Haihui Gu, Baohua Qian
- Journal
- Asian Pacific Journal of Blood Types and Genes
- Year
- 2018
- DOI
- 10.46701/APJBG.2018012018005
- Study Type
- clinical
- Peer Reviewed
- Yes
- Country
- China
- Health Condition
- Stroke
- Body System
- Cardiovascular
TL;DR
Scientists discovered that hydrogen gas can help protect our cells from damage caused by harmful molecules called free radicals that build up in our bodies every day. This could be a safe, new treatment for injuries and diseases affecting organs and blood transfusions.
Key Finding
Hydrogen gas selectively neutralizes the most harmful reactive oxygen species (hydroxyl radicals and peroxynitrite) while being non-toxic and able to diffuse easily into cells.
Summary
This review article examines hydrogen gas as a potential medical treatment. Hydrogen can neutralize harmful molecules called reactive oxygen species that damage cells during injury and recovery. Unlike other antioxidants (substances that protect against cell damage), hydrogen is non-toxic, spreads easily through cells, and targets only the most dangerous oxidants while leaving beneficial ones alone. The authors argue hydrogen deserves further study for treating conditions like stroke and for preserving blood in transfusions.
Practical Takeaway
This is a review article summarizing existing research rather than a new clinical study, and no human trials are described. While the theoretical basis for hydrogen's antioxidant effects is presented, the authors acknowledge this is an emerging area requiring further clinical investigation before any health applications can be established.
Abstract
Hydrogen (H2) is a colorless, odorless gas that can act as a reducing agent under certain circumstances. Previously considered physiologically an inert and nonfunctional molecule in mammalian cells, H2 largely went ignored until Nature Medicine revealed the antioxidant and cytoprotective effects of hydrogen gas in a focal stroke model. Reactive oxygen species (ROS）is generated inside the body throughout our daily lives as a by-product of the energy metabolism by oxidative phosphorylation, which can cause biofilm system damage and intracellular oxidative phosphorylation disorders. H2 reacts with highly reactive oxidants such as hydroxyl radical (·OH) and peroxynitrite (ONOO-) inside cells to improve ischemia reperfusion injury. In addition, hydrogen is a potent antiapoptotic and anti-inflammatory agent and can be used for potential medical applications in cells, tissues and organs. As a new antioxidant, hydrogen has the advantages of non-toxicity, easy diffusion and selective neutralization. This review makes a case for supporting hydrogen as a new antioxidant medicine for clinical applications. We also hope to provide a reference for the further study of hydrogen to preserve blood cells in transfusion medicine.