Hydrogen Therapy Shows Promise for Cancer Treatment and Prevention
The Therapeutic Application of Hydrogen in Cancer: The Potential and Challenges
Research hubs: Immune System
- Evidence type
- Review or commentary
- Authors
- Morteza Nazari Khiji, Faezeh Arghidash, Ghazaleh Khalili Tanha, Rasoul Hossein Zadeh, Elnaz Ghorbani, Majid Khazaei, Seyed Mahdi Hassanian, Ibrahim Saeed Gataa, Alfred King-Yin Lam, Elisa Giovannetti, Gordon A. Ferns, Elham Nazari, Amir Avan
- Journal
- Current Pharmaceutical Design
- Year
- 2024
- PMID
- 38638053
- Study Type
- clinical
- Peer Reviewed
- Yes
- Cited by
- 8 (OpenAlex, as of November 2026)
- Country
- Iran
TL;DR
Scientists found that hydrogen gas might help fight cancer by reducing inflammation and damage inside cells, and early tests show it could work alongside regular cancer treatments while being safe—but they need to do more research to figure out the best way to use it.
Key Finding
Preclinical studies suggest hydrogen therapy has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties that may enhance conventional cancer treatments while reducing side effects, though human clinical evidence remains limited.
Summary
This review examines hydrogen therapy as a potential approach for cancer prevention and treatment. Hydrogen may help reduce oxidative stress (cellular damage from unstable molecules) and inflammation, which are often present in cancer. Early laboratory studies suggest hydrogen could work alongside standard cancer treatments and be well-tolerated, but the review emphasizes that more rigorous clinical trials are needed to determine safe doses and confirm how it actually works in cancer patients.
Practical Takeaway
While this review identifies hydrogen as a promising research direction for cancer, it is primarily based on laboratory studies rather than large human trials. Anyone with cancer considering hydrogen therapy should discuss it with their oncologist, as the evidence is still too early to support it as a standalone or primary treatment. More clinical trials in humans are needed before definitive recommendations can be made.
Abstract (excerpt)
Hydrogen therapy has emerged as a possible approach for both preventing and treating cancer. Cancers are often associated with oxidative stress and chronic inflammation. Hydrogen, with its unique physiological functions and characteristics, exhibits antioxidant, anti-inflammatory…