Hydrogen Gas Reduces Stress and Anxiety in Mice Study
- Authors
- Qiang Gao, Han Song, Xiao-ting Wang, Ying Liang, Yan-jie Xi, Yuan Gao, Qing-jun Guo, Tyler LeBaron, Yi-xiao Luo, Shuang-cheng Li, Xi Yin, Hai-shui Shi, Yu-xia Ma
- Journal
- Scientific Reports
- Year
- 2017
- DOI
- 10.1038/s41598-017-10362-6
- Study Type
- Mouse
- Outcome
- Positive
- Peer Reviewed
- Yes
- Country
- China
- Health Condition
- Stress-Related Disorders
- Body System
- Nervous System
TL;DR
Breathing in a mix of hydrogen and oxygen gases helps mice better handle stress and reduces signs of depression and anxiety.
Key Finding
Repeated inhalation of hydrogen-oxygen mixed gas significantly reduced stress-induced depressive and anxiety-like behaviors in mice and lowered stress hormones and inflammatory markers.
Summary
Researchers gave mice a mixture of hydrogen and oxygen gas to breathe and tested whether it could help them cope with stress. Mice that inhaled this gas showed fewer signs of depression and anxiety when exposed to stressful situations, and they had lower levels of stress hormones and inflammatory markers (molecules that indicate inflammation) in their blood. Interestingly, mice that received hydrogen gas during adolescence remained more stress-resilient even into early adulthood, suggesting the effects lasted long-term.
Practical Takeaway
This is an early-stage animal study showing hydrogen gas may help protect against stress-related effects in mice. However, these results are from mice only and have not been tested in humans, so it's too early to draw conclusions about whether hydrogen water or gas would have similar effects on human stress or mental health. More research, including human studies, would be needed before any practical recommendations could be made.
Abstract (excerpt)
The inability to successfully adapt to stress produces pathological changes that can lead to depression. Molecular hydrogen has anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory activities and neuroprotective effects. However, the potential role of molecular hydrogen in stress-related disorders is still poorly…