Hydrogen Gas May Reduce Muscle Damage in Mice During Ischemia-Reperfusion
Protective Effect of Hydrogen Gas Inhalation on Muscular Damage Using a Mouse Hindlimb Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury Model
Research hubs: Musculoskeletal System
This research was done in animals. Results in animals often don't carry over to people.
- Evidence type
- Animal study (mouse)
- Authors
- Mai Watanabe, Naomi Kamimura, Katsuya Iuchi, Kiyomi Nishimaki, Takashi Yokota, Rei Ogawa, Shigeo Ohta
- Journal
- Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery
- Year
- 2017
- PMID
- 30998612
- Study Type
- Mouse
- Delivery
- Saline (Dissolved)
- Dose
- hydrogen gas inhalation during ischemia-reperfusion
- Duration
- 1 weeks
- Outcome
- Positive
- Peer Reviewed
- Yes
- Cited by
- 15 (OpenAlex, as of November 2026)
- Country
- Japan
TL;DR
Breathing in hydrogen gas can reduce muscle damage and speed up recovery after a blood flow blockage and its restoration in muscles.
Key Finding
Breathing hydrogen gas before ischemia-reperfusion injury significantly reduced muscle damage and inflammation in mice, with pretreatment proving more effective than treatment after the injury occurred.
Summary
Researchers used mice to test whether breathing hydrogen gas could protect muscle tissue from damage caused by temporarily cutting off blood supply and then restoring it (a condition called ischemia-reperfusion injury). They found that mice who breathed hydrogen gas before the injury had less muscle damage, less inflammation (swelling and immune response), and recovered better walking ability compared to mice that received hydrogen after the injury or through other delivery methods.
Practical Takeaway
This early-stage mouse study suggests hydrogen gas inhalation may help protect muscle tissue during injury involving loss of blood flow, but these results have not been tested in humans. The finding that pretreatment was more effective than posttreatment suggests timing of hydrogen exposure may matter, though much more research is needed before any clinical applications.
Abstract (excerpt)
Background: Ischemia-reperfusion injury is one of the leading causes of tissue damage and dysfunction, in particular, free tissue transfer, traumatically amputated extremity, and prolonged tourniquet application during extremity surgery. In this study, the authors investigated the therapeutic…