Hydrogen Gas Boosts Heart Protection During Heart Attacks in Rats
- Authors
- Marek Zálešák, Branislav Kura, Ján Graban, Veronika Farkašová, Ján Slezák, Tatiana Ravingerová
- Journal
- Canadian Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
- Year
- 2017
- DOI
- 10.1139/cjpp-2016-0693
- Study Type
- Rat
- Outcome
- Positive
- Peer Reviewed
- Yes
- Country
- Slovakia
- Health Condition
- Myocardial Infarction
- Body System
- Cardiovascular
TL;DR
Breathing molecular hydrogen during a special heart-protective procedure can reduce heart damage and improve heart function after a blood flow blockage.
Key Finding
Molecular hydrogen enhanced the heart-protective effects of hypoxic postconditioning in rat hearts, further reducing damage from interrupted blood flow and improving heart function recovery compared to postconditioning alone.
Summary
Researchers studied how molecular hydrogen (H2)—a gas that can reduce harmful free radicals (unstable molecules that damage cells)—might protect rat hearts from damage caused by interrupted blood flow and then restored blood flow. They tested whether adding hydrogen to a recovery treatment called hypoxic postconditioning could improve protection. The combination of hydrogen plus hypoxic postconditioning reduced heart damage, decreased dangerous heart rhythm problems, and improved heart function recovery better than either treatment alone.
Practical Takeaway
This is an early-stage rat study suggesting hydrogen may work synergistically with certain recovery techniques to reduce heart damage from blood flow interruption. However, this research has not been tested in humans, and it's unclear whether dissolved hydrogen in water would deliver similar effects or be relevant to heart health in living people. Much more research is needed before any health applications can be considered.
Abstract (excerpt)
Generation of free radicals through incomplete reduction of oxygen during ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) is well described. On the other hand, molecular hydrogen (H2) reduces oxidative stress due to its ability to react with strong oxidants and easily penetrate cells by diffusion, without disturbing…