Hydrogen Therapy and Heart Function in Heart Failure
Molecular Hydrogen Reduces the Degree of Endothelial Alteration under Conditions of Chronic Heart Failure
Research hubs: Cardiovascular System
This research was done in animals. Results in animals often don't carry over to people.
- Evidence type
- Animal study
- Authors
- A. V. Deryugina, D. A. Danilova
- Journal
- Bulletin of Experimental Biology and Medicine
- Year
- 2023
- PMID
- 37773571
- Study Type
- Human
- Delivery
- Gas
- Dose
- 40 min per day for 5 consecutive days (repeated) or single 40 min inhalation
- H₂ concentration
- 2% H2 gas
- Duration
- 2 weeks
- Outcome
- Positive
- Peer Reviewed
- Yes
- Cited by
- 3 (OpenAlex, as of November 2026)
- Country
- Russia
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)…