Hydrogen Therapy Protects Heart Health in Heart Failure Study

Authors
Journal
Bulletin of Experimental Biology and Medicine
Year
DOI
10.1007/s10517-023-05880-5
Study Type
Human
Outcome
Positive
Peer Reviewed
Yes
Country
Russia
Health Condition
Chronic Heart Failure
Body System
Cardiovascular

TL;DR

Breathing in molecular hydrogen helped reduce heart damage and improve heart health in rats with heart failure.

Key Finding

Hydrogen gas inhalation reduced circulating endothelial cells (damaged heart lining cells) and restored heart muscle structure in rats with chronic heart failure, with the strongest effect seen 14 days after repeated treatments.

Summary

Researchers tested whether breathing hydrogen gas could help rats with simulated chronic heart failure (a condition where the heart weakens over time). Rats breathed 2% hydrogen gas either once or daily for 5 days. The treatment reduced the number of damaged heart cells circulating in the blood and helped restore the heart's structure, suggesting hydrogen gas may slow heart damage in chronic heart failure.

Practical Takeaway

This is an animal study only, so results cannot yet be applied to humans. While the findings suggest hydrogen gas inhalation may have protective effects on the heart, human clinical trials are needed before any conclusions can be drawn about its use in heart failure patients. Anyone with heart disease should consult their doctor before considering experimental therapies.

Abstract (excerpt)

We studied the effect of molecular hydrogen H2 on the content of circulating endothelial cells and the macrohistological structure of the heart in rats with simulated chronic heart failure. Inhalation with 2% H2 was carried out repeatedly (40 min per day for 5 consecutive days) or once (40 min)…

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