Scientists Prove Hydrogen Gas Acts as Powerful Antioxidant in Living Cells
The Evaluation and Quantitation of Dihydrogen Metabolism Using Deuterium Isotope in Rats
Research hubs: Oxidative Stress
This research was done in animals. Results in animals often don't carry over to people.
- Evidence type
- Animal study (rat)
- Authors
- Radomir Hyspler, Alena Ticha, Henk Schierbeek, Alexander Galkin, Zdenek Zadak
- Journal
- PLoS One
- Year
- 2015
- PMID
- 26103048
- Study Type
- Rat
- Delivery
- Gas
- Dose
- Intraperitoneally-applied deuterium gas
- Outcome
- Positive
- Peer Reviewed
- Yes
- Cited by
- 10 (OpenAlex, as of November 2026)
- Country
- Czech Republic
TL;DR
Hydrogen gas has been shown to act as an effective antioxidant in rats, reducing harmful oxidative stress without being affected by low oxygen or toxins, and could be a cheap and safe supplement for patients with certain diseases.
Key Finding
Approximately 10% of administered hydrogen underwent oxidation in rats, and hydrogen significantly reduced superoxide formation in mitochondrial respiratory chain Complex I in laboratory experiments.
Summary
Researchers used a special form of hydrogen (deuterium) to track how the body processes molecular hydrogen in rats. They found that about 10% of the hydrogen was oxidized (chemically broken down) in the body, and in laboratory tests, hydrogen reduced the production of harmful molecules called superoxides in mitochondria (the energy-producing parts of cells). The study suggests hydrogen may work as an antioxidant, but the research was conducted in animals, not humans.
Practical Takeaway
This animal study provides early evidence that molecular hydrogen may have antioxidant effects in the body. However, because this research was conducted only in rats and in laboratory conditions, it cannot yet confirm whether these effects would occur in humans or translate to health benefits. More human studies would be needed to determine whether hydrogen water has practical value for consumers.
Abstract (excerpt)
Purpose: Despite the significant interest in molecular hydrogen as an antioxidant in the last eight years, its quantitative metabolic parameters in vivo are still lacking, as is an appropriate method for determination of hydrogen effectivity in the mammalian organism under various conditions. Basic…