Hydrogen Gas Protects DNA from Radiation Damage in Lab Study
- Authors
- Mhamad Abou-Hamdan, Bernard Gardette, Jean Cadet, Bouchra Gharib, Max De Reggi, Thierry Douki, Christian Triantaphylides
- Journal
- International Journal of Radiation Biology
- Year
- 2016
- DOI
- 10.1080/09553002.2016.1206234
- Study Type
- Cell Culture
- Outcome
- Positive
- Peer Reviewed
- Yes
- Country
- France
- Health Condition
- Radiation Exposure
- Body System
- Cellular
TL;DR
Hydrogen gas can significantly protect DNA from damage caused by gamma radiation by capturing harmful molecules known as hydroxyl radicals.
Key Finding
Dissolved hydrogen gas reduced radiation-induced DNA damage in laboratory solutions by scavenging hydroxyl radicals, the primary damaging molecules created by gamma radiation exposure.
Summary
Researchers exposed DNA to gamma radiation in laboratory solutions and tested whether dissolved hydrogen gas could protect the DNA from damage. They found that hydrogen significantly reduced radiation-induced damage to DNA building blocks by neutralizing harmful molecules called hydroxyl radicals (reactive oxygen species created by radiation). The protective effect was specific to hydrogen—helium gas had no protective effect—showing that hydrogen works by capturing these damaging radicals rather than through other mechanisms.
Practical Takeaway
This is an early-stage laboratory study in test tubes, not human research, so it cannot yet support health claims about hydrogen water for radiation protection. The findings suggest hydrogen may have radioprotective properties at the molecular level, but much more research—including animal and human studies—would be needed to determine whether drinking hydrogen water could provide similar protection in living organisms.
Abstract
Purpose: The main aim of the present study is to gain mechanistic insights into the modulating effect of molecular hydrogen on the γ-radiation-induced alteration pathways of DNA nucleobases. Materials and methods: Aerated aqueous solutions of calf thymus DNA were exposed to a (60)Co source at doses ranging from 0 to 55 Gy under normoxic conditions, in the presence or not of 0.7 MPa hydrogen or helium. The measurement of several modified bases was performed using HPLC associated with electrospray ionization tandem pass spectrometry (HPLC-ESI-MS/MS). Bleaching of aqueous solutions of p-nitrosodimethylaniline (p-NDA) solutions was also used to allow the quantification of hydroxyl radical (•OH) formation. Results: pNDA bleaching was significantly reduced in the presence of hyperbaric hydrogen. This is undoubtedly due to (•)OH scavenging by H2 since, under the same conditions, He had no effect. Similarly, base alterations were significantly reduced in the presence of hydrogen, as compared to controls under normal atmosphere or in the presence of helium. The relative proportions of modified nucleobases were not changed, showing that the only effect of H2 is to scavenge (•)OH without exhibiting reducing properties. Conclusions: Our findings demonstrate that H2 exerts a significant protection against radiation-induced DNA base damage in aqueous solutions, (•)OH scavenging being the only mechanism involved.