Hydrogen Gas Helps Heart Function and Blood Flow in Heart Failure Study
- Authors
- Anna Vyacheslavovna Deryugina, Darya Andreevna Danilova, Vladimir Viktorovich Pichugin, Yurii Dmitrievich Brichkin
- Journal
- Life
- Year
- 2023
- DOI
- 10.3390/life13020418
- Study Type
- Rat
- Outcome
- Positive
- Peer Reviewed
- Yes
- Country
- Russia
- Health Condition
- Chronic Heart Failure
- Body System
- Cardiovascular
TL;DR
Breathing in hydrogen gas can help protect the heart and improve blood flow by reducing inflammation and oxidative damage in blood cells.
Key Finding
Inhaling molecular hydrogen reduced oxidative stress in red blood cells and improved their mobility and clumping behavior in rats with simulated chronic heart failure, with stronger effects from multiple exposures.
Summary
This rat study investigated whether inhaling molecular hydrogen (H2) could help red blood cells function better in animals with simulated chronic heart failure. Researchers measured various markers of cell damage and function, including oxidative stress (cellular damage from unstable molecules) and how well red blood cells moved and clumped together. They found that H2 inhalation reduced signs of cellular damage, improved red blood cell mobility, and decreased clumping—effects that were stronger with repeated exposures.
Practical Takeaway
This is an early-stage animal study that suggests H2 inhalation may help improve blood cell function in heart failure, but human studies are needed before any conclusions can be drawn about its usefulness for people. The study does not report sample size or treatment duration, which limits confidence in the findings.
Abstract
Molecular hydrogen has an anti-inflammatory and cardioprotective effect, which is associated with its antioxidant properties. Erythrocytes are subjected to oxidative stress in pathologies of the cardiovascular system, which is the cause of a violation of the gas transport function of blood and microcirculation. Therefore, our aim was to investigate the effects of H2 inhalation on the functional states of red blood cells (RBCs) in chronic heart failure (CHF) in rats. The markers of lipid peroxidation, antioxidant capacity, electrophoretic mobility of erythrocytes (EPM), aggregation, levels of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and 2,3-diphosphoglyceric acid (2,3-DPG), hematological parameters were estimated in RBCs. An increase in EPM and a decrease in the level of aggregation were observed in groups with multiple and single H2 application. The orientation of lipoperoxidation processes in erythrocytes was combined with the dynamics of changes in oxidative processes in blood plasma, it was observed with both single and multiple exposures, although the severity of the changes was greater with multiple H2 inhalations. Probably, the antioxidant effects of molecular hydrogen mediate its metabolic action. Based on these data, we conclude the use of H2 improves microcirculation and oxygen transport function of blood and can be effective in the treatment of CHF.