Hydrogen Therapy Research Grows Rapidly Since 2007
- Authors
- He Li, Hong-Yu Ma, Wei-Long Hua, Yong-Xin Zhang, Lei Zhang, Peng-Fei Xing, Peng-Fei Yang, Jian-Min Liu
- Journal
- Medical Gas Research
- Year
- 2023
- DOI
- 10.4103/2045-9912.344980
- Study Type
- clinical
- Peer Reviewed
- Yes
- Country
- China
- Health Condition
- Oxidative Stress Disorders
- Body System
- Immune System
TL;DR
Scientists have been studying hydrogen therapy (basically giving people hydrogen gas or hydrogen-rich water) as a possible treatment, and the research is growing really fast—way more studies about it are being published every year. The main thing hydrogen seems to do is help reduce harmful stuff in your body that causes disease, which is why doctors are excited to keep researching it.
Key Finding
Research on hydrogen therapy has grown steadily since 2007, with most studies investigating its potential to reduce oxidative stress and inflammation, while emerging research explores effects on gut bacteria and other mechanisms.
Summary
This study analyzed over 1,100 scientific papers about hydrogen therapy (hydrogen-rich water and hydrogen gas) published between 2007 and 2021 to understand research trends in this field. Researchers found that studies on hydrogen therapy have been increasing each year, with most research focusing on how hydrogen might reduce oxidative stress (cellular damage from unstable molecules) and inflammation (the body's immune response). Newer research areas include effects on gut bacteria, a type of cell death called pyroptosis, and potential applications for COVID-19.
Practical Takeaway
This is a bibliometric analysis (a study of publication trends) rather than a clinical trial, so it does not test whether hydrogen therapy actually works. It shows that the field is active and growing, but the analysis itself cannot confirm health benefits. Anyone interested in hydrogen water should note that this paper documents research interest, not proven medical outcomes.
Abstract
The medical use of molecular hydrogen, including hydrogen-rich water and hydrogen gas, has been extensively explored since 2007. This article aimed to demonstrate the trend in medical research on molecular hydrogen. A total of 1126 publications on hydrogen therapy were retrieved from the PubMed database until July 30, 2021. From 2007 to 2020, the number of publications in this field had been on an upward trend. Medical Gas Research, Scientific Report and Shock have contributed the largest number of publications on this topic. Researchers by the name of Xue-Jun Sun, Ke-Liang Xie and Yong-Hao Yu published the most studies in the field. Analysis of the co-occurrence of key words indicated that the key words "molecular hydrogen," "hydrogen-rich water," "oxidative stress," "hydrogen gas," and "inflammation" occurred most frequently in these articles. "Gut microbiota," "pyroptosis," and "COVID-19" occurred the most recently among the keywords. In summary, the therapeutic application of molecular hydrogen had attracted much attention in these years. The advance in this field could be caught up by subscribing to relevant journals or following experienced scholars. Oxidative stress and inflammation were the most important research directions currently, and gut microbiota, pyroptosis, and coronavirus disease 2019 might become hotspots in the future.