Hydrogen Gas Shows Promise for Emergency Medical Treatment
- Authors
- Motoaki Sano, Masaru Suzuki, Koichiro Homma, Kei Hayashida, Tomoyoshi Tamura, Tadashi Matsuoka, Yoshinori Katsumata, Shuko Onuki, Junichi Sasaki
- Journal
- Acute Medicine & Surgery
- Year
- 2017
- DOI
- 10.1002/ams2.320
- Study Type
- clinical
- Peer Reviewed
- Yes
- Country
- Japan
- Health Condition
- Acute Myocardial Infarction
- Body System
- Cardiovascular
TL;DR
Scientists found that breathing in hydrogen gas might help treat serious medical emergencies like heart attacks and shock by reducing harmful inflammation and damage in the body. This is exciting because it could be a simple, new tool to help save lives in emergency rooms, but doctors need to do more research to make sure it actually works.
Summary
Researchers at the Center for Molecular Hydrogen Medicine investigated hydrogen gas therapy for emergency medical conditions. Their studies suggest hydrogen gas has therapeutic benefits for acute myocardial infarction, cardiopulmonary arrest, contrast-induced kidney injury, and hemorrhagic shock. The gas appears to work through antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, helping reduce tissue damage from oxygen deprivation and inflammation. While promising results have been observed across multiple emergency conditions, scientists haven't yet identified the exact molecular mechanisms. The research center is working toward regulatory approval for hydrogen gas medical devices through industry partnerships and clinical trials.
Abstract (excerpt)
It has been reported that hydrogen gas exerts a therapeutic effect in a wide range of disease conditions, from acute illness such as ischemia-reperfusion injury, shock, and damage healing to chronic illness such as metabolic syndrome, rheumatoid arthritis, and neurodegenerative diseases…