IV Hydrogen Saline Doesn't Work - Study Shows Lungs Block Delivery

Summary by Hydrogen Studies Editorial Team · Updated

Authors
Journal
Biomedicines
Year
DOI
10.3390/biomedicines13010234
Study Type
Pig
Outcome
Neutral
Peer Reviewed
Yes
Country
Japan
Health Condition
General therapeutic applications
Body System
Cardiovascular

TL;DR

Researchers found that hydrogen gas can be safely added to intravenous saline solutions, but most of it is removed from the blood by the lungs before it can reach the rest of the body.

Key Finding

Intravenous hydrogen-saturated saline is clinically ineffective because nearly all hydrogen is expelled through the lungs during pulmonary circulation and does not reach systemic arterial circulation.

Summary

Researchers tested whether hydrogen gas could be safely mixed into intravenous saline solution and delivered to pigs' bloodstreams. They found that while hydrogen could be safely added to the saline without contamination or chemical changes, almost all of the hydrogen was eliminated through the lungs during circulation and never reached the systemic blood supply, making this delivery method ineffective for therapeutic use.

Practical Takeaway

This animal study suggests that delivering hydrogen through intravenous saline may not be a viable method for getting hydrogen into the body, since the lungs eliminate it before it can reach tissues. This finding is limited to pig studies and does not directly apply to humans, but it indicates that other hydrogen delivery methods (such as inhaled hydrogen gas or hydrogen-rich water) may be more promising for future research.

Abstract (excerpt)

Background: Hydrogen gas (H2) has been shown to be effective in the treatment of various clinical conditions, from acute illnesses to chronic illnesses. However, its clinical indications and the corresponding appropriate hydrogen delivery methods have yet to be determined. This is due to the fact…

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