Hydrogen Gas Shows Promise for Treating 63 Diseases and Brain Conditions
- Authors
- Kinji Ohno, Mikako Ito, Masatoshi Ichihara, Masafumi Ito
- Journal
- Oxidative Medicine and Cellular Longevity
- Year
- 2012
- DOI
- 10.1155/2012/353152
- Study Type
- clinical
- Peer Reviewed
- Yes
- Country
- Japan
- Health Condition
- Parkinson's Disease
- Body System
- Nervous System
TL;DR
Scientists found that a special type of hydrogen gas might help treat lots of diseases, especially ones that damage the brain and ones caused by lack of oxygen, but they're still puzzled about why such tiny amounts seem to work and why our bodies don't already make enough of it naturally.
Key Finding
Molecular hydrogen demonstrated therapeutic potential across 63 disease models, with particularly strong effects in oxidative stress-related conditions including neurodegenerative diseases and metabolic disorders, though the mechanisms explaining these effects remain unclear.
Summary
This review examined research on molecular hydrogen (a gas) as a potential treatment for various diseases. Scientists found that hydrogen showed promising effects in 63 different disease models, particularly in conditions involving oxidative stress (cellular damage from unstable molecules). Most studies were done in rodents, though six human diseases have been tested including type 2 diabetes and metabolic syndrome. However, two puzzling questions remain: why small amounts of hydrogen-rich water produce strong effects despite no clear dose-response pattern, and why adding hydrogen helps when the body already produces hydrogen naturally through gut bacteria.
Practical Takeaway
While early research suggests hydrogen may have therapeutic potential for various conditions, most evidence comes from animal studies rather than human trials. The review notes that fundamental questions about how hydrogen works and what dose or delivery method is optimal remain unanswered, meaning it is too early to draw firm conclusions about hydrogen water's effectiveness for any specific health condition in humans.
Abstract (excerpt)
Effects of molecular hydrogen on various diseases have been documented for 63 disease models and human diseases in the past four and a half years. Most studies have been performed on rodents including two models of Parkinson's disease and three models of Alzheimer's disease. Prominent effects…