Authors:
Michal Botek, Jakub Krejčí, Michal Valenta, Andrew McKune, Petr Konečný, Iva Klimešová, Dalibor Pastucha

Source:
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, Volume 19, Issue 4 (2022)
DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19041992

Background

Molecular hydrogen (H₂) is gaining attention as a therapeutic gas due to its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-apoptotic, and anti-fatigue properties. This is particularly relevant for acute post-COVID-19 patients, who frequently suffer from lingering respiratory and physical limitations.

Objective

To evaluate the effect of 14-day hydrogen gas inhalation on respiratory performance and physical fitness in patients recovering from acute COVID-19.

Methodology

• Study Design: Randomized, single-blind, placebo-controlled trial

• Participants: 50 patients (26 men, 24 women)

  • Age: Men: 44 ± 17 years, Women: 38 ± 12 years

  • Post-COVID-19 phase: 21st to 33rd day after PCR confirmation

• Tests performed:

  • 6-minute walk test (6MWT) to assess physical endurance

  • Pulmonary function tests:

    • Forced Vital Capacity (FVC)

    • Forced Expiratory Volume in 1 Second (FEV₁)

• Intervention:

  • Inhalation of hydrogen gas or placebo

  • Twice daily, 60 minutes per session, for 14 days

Results

Patients who inhaled hydrogen gas showed significantly greater improvements than those in the placebo group:

• 6MWT distance: +64 ± 39 meters

• FVC (lung volume): +0.19 ± 0.24 liters

• FEV₁ (airflow measure): +0.11 ± 0.28 liters

• All improvements had p-values ≤ 0.025, indicating statistical significance

Conclusion

Hydrogen gas inhalation over 14 days significantly improved both physical capacity and respiratory function in acute post-COVID-19 patients. The therapy appears to be a safe and effective option to accelerate early recovery in rehabilitation settings.

Authors:
Alexis R. Cole, Francesca Sperotto, James A. DiNardo, Stephanie Carlisle, Michael J. Rivkin, Lynn A. Sleeper, John N. Kheir

Source:
Critical Care Explorations, Volume 3, Issue 10 (2021)
DOI: 10.1097/CCE.0000000000000543

Background

Ischemia-reperfusion injury is a common issue in critically ill patients, and currently, no targeted therapy exists. Hydrogen gas has been shown to reduce this type of injury in experimental models of shock, stroke, and cardiac arrest.

Objective

To evaluate the safety of inhaling hydrogen gas at concentrations proposed for future clinical efficacy studies.

Methodology

• Design: Prospective, single-arm study

• Participants: 8 healthy adult volunteers (aged 18–30, 50% female, 62% non-White)

• Intervention:

  • Inhalation of 2.4% hydrogen gas in medical air

  • Administered via high-flow nasal cannula (15 L/min)

  • Duration:

    • 24 hours (n = 2)

    • 48 hours (n = 2)

    • 72 hours (n = 4)

• Assessments pre- and post-exposure:

  • Vital signs

  • Pulmonary function tests

  • 12-lead ECG

  • Mini-Mental State Examination

  • Neurological exams

  • Blood tests (including hematology, liver, kidney, pancreas, and cardiac markers)

  • Adverse event reporting (evaluated by external safety monitors)

Results

• Completion: All 8 participants completed the study without early withdrawal.

• Safety outcomes:

  • No clinically significant adverse events occurred.

  • No changes were observed in:

    • Vital signs

    • Pulmonary function

    • Mental or neurological status

    • Cardiac or serological markers

  • Minor, clinically irrelevant increases in hematocrit and platelet counts were noted.

Conclusion

Inhaling 2.4% hydrogen gas for up to 72 hours appears to be safe and well tolerated in healthy adults.
These findings provide a foundation for future clinical trials investigating the therapeutic use of hydrogen gas in conditions like cardiac arrest and ischemic injury.

Authors:
Zheng ZG, Sun WZ, Hu JY, Jie ZJ, Xu JF, Cao J, Song YL, Wang CH, Wang J, Zhao H, Guo ZL, Zhong NS

Source:
Respiratory Research, Volume 22, Article number: 149 (2021)
DOI: 10.1186/s12931-021-01740-w

Objective

To determine whether inhalation of a hydrogen/oxygen gas mixture is more effective than oxygen alone in improving symptoms in patients with acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD).

Methodology

• Design: Multicenter, prospective, randomized, double-blind, controlled clinical trial

• Sites: 10 clinical centers

• Participants: AECOPD patients with a BCSS score ≥ 6 (Breathlessness, Cough, and Sputum Scale)

• Groups:

  • Hydrogen/Oxygen group

  • Oxygen-only group

• Primary Endpoint: Change in BCSS score on Day 7 from baseline

• Safety Endpoint: Recording of adverse events (AEs)

Results

• Symptom Improvement:

  • BCSS improvement was significantly greater in the hydrogen/oxygen group than in the oxygen group

    • Change: −5.3 vs. −2.4

    • Difference: −2.75 points (95% CI: −3.27 to −2.22)

    • Met superiority criteria

  • Similar trends observed from Day 2 to Day 6

• Cough Symptom Score:

  • Improvement was significantly greater in the hydrogen/oxygen group

    • Change: −11.00 vs. −6.00 (p < 0.001)

• Other Outcomes:

  • No significant differences in:

    • Pulmonary function

    • Arterial blood gases

    • Oxygen saturation (non-invasive)

    • Secondary endpoints

• Safety:

  • AEs occurred in:

    • 63.0% of the hydrogen/oxygen group

    • 77.8% of the oxygen-only group

  • No deaths or equipment malfunctions reported during the study

Conclusion

Hydrogen/oxygen therapy was superior to oxygen therapy alone in alleviating symptoms of AECOPD, with an acceptable safety and tolerability profile. This therapy could represent a promising adjunctive approach in managing acute exacerbations in COPD.

Authors:
Singh RB, Tarnava A, Fatima G, Fedacko J, Mojto V, LeBaron TW

Source:
Diseases, Volume 11, Issue 4 (2023)
DOI: 10.3390/diseases11040127

Background

Chronic lung diseases are increasingly recognized to be associated with inflammation and oxidative stress, which can lead to lung fibrosis and chronic respiratory failure.

Objective

To investigate whether hydrogen-rich water (HRW) could enhance oxygen saturation (SpO₂) in patients suffering from various chronic lung diseases.

Methodology

• Participants: 10 patients with chronic lung diseases, including:

  • COPD (n = 7)

  • Bronchial asthma (n = 2)

  • Pulmonary tuberculosis (n = 1)

  • Baseline oxygen saturation: 90–95%

• Intervention: Oral consumption of HRW with a high concentration of hydrogen (>5 mM) generated by H₂-producing tablets for 4 weeks

• Measurements:

  • SpO₂: Measured by pulse oximeter

  • Blood pressure: Measured using a digital automatic monitor

  • Biomarkers: TBARS, MDA, diene conjugates, vitamin E, and nitrite levels

Results

• Significant increase in SpO₂ after HRW therapy

• Reduction in oxidative stress biomarkers:

  • Lower levels of TBARS (thiobarbituric acid reactive substances)

  • Lower MDA (malondialdehyde)

  • Reduced diene conjugates

• Increased antioxidant markers:

  • Higher vitamin E

  • Higher nitrite levels

• Additional benefit: Exercise performed post-HRW therapy appeared to improve physical tolerance, reduce hypoxia, and potentially delay the need for oxygen therapy

Conclusion

Hydrogen-rich water therapy may reduce oxidative stress and improve oxygen saturation in some patients with chronic hypoxia caused by lung disease. HRW might also enhance exercise tolerance, offering a potential adjunct therapy in pulmonary rehabilitation. However, further research is needed to confirm these findin

Authors:
Muramatsu Y., Ito M., Oshima T., Kojima S., Ohno K.
Source: Pediatric Pulmonology, Volume 51, Issue 9 (2016)
DOI: 10.1002/ppul.23386

Background

Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) is characterized by arrested development of alveolar tissue. Oxidative stress plays a causal role in the development of BPD. Hydrogen has shown beneficial effects in many disease models, particularly those involving oxidative damage.

Methodology

• A rat model of BPD was created via injection of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) into amniotic fluid on embryonic day 16.5 (E16.5).

• The mother rats began drinking hydrogen-rich water (HRW) from E9.5 and continued through the lactation period.

• HRW normalized abnormal alveolar enlargement caused by LPS at postnatal days 7 and 14 (P7 and P14).

• LPS increased markers of oxidative stress in the lungs (e.g., nitrotyrosine and 8-OHdG staining), while HRW reduced these markers.

Results

• On P1, LPS treatment decreased the expression of genes FGFR4, VEGFR2, and HO-1 in the lungs.

• HRW increased the expression of these same genes.

• No significant changes were found in SOD1 gene expression between the groups.

• LPS elevated inflammatory markers TNF-α and IL-6, both of which were suppressed by HRW.

• In human A549 lung epithelial cells, 24-hour exposure to 10% hydrogen gas reduced reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels, both in LPS-treated and untreated cells.

Conclusion

Hydrogen-rich water ameliorated the effects of BPD in a neonatal rat model by reducing oxidative stress and inflammation, while promoting gene expression associated with lung development. Given the lack of known adverse effects, hydrogen appears to be a promising therapeutic modality for the treatment of BPD.

Authors:
Suzuki Y., Sato T., Sugimoto M., Baskoro H., Karasutani K., Mitsui A., Nurwidya F., Arano N., Kodama Y., Hirano S., Ishigami A., Seyama K., Takahashi K.
Source: Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications, Volume 492, Issue 1 (2017)
DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2017.08.035
PMID: 28807355

Background

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is predominantly a cigarette smoke (CS)-induced condition associated with chronic systemic inflammation. Oxidants from CS can damage DNA and trigger premature cellular senescence in the respiratory system, contributing significantly to COPD pathology. While antioxidants may be beneficial, their clinical utility is limited by the disease’s complexity.

Molecular hydrogen (H₂) has recently emerged as a promising therapeutic and preventive antioxidant. It selectively reduces hydroxyl radicals without known side effects, suggesting potential applications in managing oxidative stress, inflammation, apoptosis, and lipid metabolism.

Objective

To determine whether hydrogen-rich water (HRW) can attenuate histological lung damage caused by cigarette smoke in SMP30-knockout (KO) mice, a model used to study COPD.

Methodology

• HRW was administered to SMP30-KO mice exposed to cigarette smoke for 8 weeks.

• These mice lack senescence marker protein-30, making them more susceptible to stress-induced aging.

Results

• HRW administration attenuated cigarette smoke-induced lung damage, as shown by reductions in the mean linear intercept and destruction index of the lungs.

• HRW restored static lung compliance in smoke-exposed mice compared to untreated controls.

• It also reduced oxidative DNA damage markers, including phosphorylated histone H2AX and 8-hydroxy-2′-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG).

• Additionally, it lowered senescence markers, such as p16^Ink4a, p21^Cip1, and senescence-associated β-galactosidase levels in lung tissues.

Conclusion

Hydrogen-rich pure water attenuated CS-induced emphysema in SMP30-KO mice by reducing DNA oxidative damage and premature cellular senescence in the lungs. These findings suggest that molecular hydrogen supplementation could be a novel preventive and therapeutic strategy for managing COPD.

Let me know if you’d like shrnutí všech těchto studií jako infografiku, brožuru nebo odborný přehled v jednotném stylu.