Hydrogen Gas Protects Lungs from Radiation Damage in Mice

Authors
Journal
Current Pharmaceutical Design
Year
DOI
10.2174/1381612827666210119103545
Study Type
clinical
Peer Reviewed
Yes
Country
Japan
Health Condition
Radiation-Induced Lung Injury
Body System
Respiratory

TL;DR

Scientists found that breathing in or drinking hydrogen-enriched water can protect your lungs from damage caused by radiation by getting rid of harmful molecules that radiation creates in your body, which could be really helpful for people getting cancer treatment or exposed to radiation.

Key Finding

Animal studies suggest that inhaled hydrogen gas or hydrogen-enriched water can reduce both acute and chronic lung damage caused by radiation exposure by neutralizing harmful reactive oxygen species and reducing inflammation.

Summary

This review examines how molecular hydrogen (H2)—a simple gas that can be inhaled or consumed in water—may protect against lung damage caused by radiation exposure. Radiation damages cells partly by creating harmful molecules called reactive oxygen species (ROS). The review summarizes evidence from laboratory and animal studies showing that hydrogen can neutralize these harmful molecules and reduce inflammation, potentially protecting lung tissue from both immediate and long-term radiation injury.

Practical Takeaway

While this review presents promising laboratory and animal evidence for hydrogen's protective effects against radiation damage, it does not include human clinical trials. The findings are preliminary and based on cell cultures and mouse studies, so it remains unclear whether these benefits would translate to humans or what dose and delivery method would be effective. Anyone considering hydrogen water for radiation protection should consult their healthcare provider, as this is not yet an established clinical treatment.

Abstract

Radiation-induced lung injury is characterized by an acute pneumonia phase followed by a fibrotic phase. At the time of irradiation, a rapid, short-lived burst of reactive oxygen species (ROS) such as hydroxyl radicals (•OH) occurs, but chronic radiation-induced lung injury may occur due to excess ROS such as H2O2 , O2•- , ONOO- , and •OH. Molecular hydrogen (H2 ) is an efficient antioxidant that quickly diffuses cell membranes, reduces ROS such as •OH and ONOO- , and suppresses damage caused by oxidative stress in various organs. In 2011, through the evaluation of electron-spin resonance and fluorescent indicator signals, we had reported that H2 can eliminate •OH and can protect against oxidative stress-related apoptotic damage induced by irradiation of cultured lung epithelial cells. We had explored for the first time the radioprotective effects of H2 treatment on acute and chronic radiation-induced lung damage in mice by inhaled H2 gas (for acute) and imbibed H2 -enriched water (for chronic). Thus, we had proposed that H2 be considered a potential radioprotective agent. Recent publications have shown that H2 directly neutralizes highly reactive oxidants and indirectly reduces oxidative stress by regulating the expression of various genes. By regulating gene expression, H2 functions as an anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptotic molecule and promotes energy metabolism. The increased evidence obtained from cultured cells or animal experiments reveal a putative place for H2 treatment and its radioprotective effect clinically. This review focuses on major scientific advances of in the treatment of H2 as a new class of radioprotective agents.