Beneficial biological effects and the underlying mechanisms of molecular hydrogen - comprehensive review of 321 original articles -

Abstract

Therapeutic effects of molecular hydrogen for a wide range of disease models and human diseases have been investigated since 2007. A total of 321 original articles have been published from 2007 to June 2015. Most studies have been conducted in Japan, China, and the USA. About three-quarters of the articles show the effects in mice and rats. The number of clinical trials is increasing every year. In most diseases, the effect of hydrogen has been reported with hydrogen water or hydrogen gas, which was followed by confirmation of the effect with hydrogen-rich saline. Hydrogen water is mostly given ad libitum. Hydrogen gas of less than 4 % is given by inhalation. The effects have been reported in essentially all organs covering 31 disease categories that can be subdivided into 166 disease models, human diseases, treatment-associated pathologies, and pathophysiological conditions of plants with a predominance of oxidative stress-mediated diseases and inflammatory diseases. Specific extinctions of hydroxyl radical and peroxynitrite were initially presented, but the radical-scavenging effect of hydrogen cannot be held solely accountable for its drastic effects. We and others have shown that the effects can be mediated by modulating activities and expressions of various molecules such as Lyn, ERK, p38, JNK, ASK1, Akt, GTP-Rac1, iNOS, Nox1, NF-κB p65, IκBα, STAT3, NFATc1, c-Fos, and ghrelin. Master regulator(s) that drive these modifications, however, remain to be elucidated and are currently being extensively investigated.

Influence of redox potential of different water quality on the human blood

“…The dominant form of hydrogen injection in the body is hydrogen-saturated physiological solution or water, and hydrogen gas. The positive therapeutic effect is found in almost all bodies that cover 31 type of diseases caused mainly by oxidative stress and inflammation [9].…”

Hydrogen-rich saline inhibits tobacco smoke-induced chronic obstructive pulmonary disease by alleviating airway inflammation and mucus hypersecretion in rats

“…9 Hydrogen-rich saline suppressed the production of several proinflammatory mediators through inhibiting the activation of p38 and NF-jB. 10 Drinking hydrogen-rich water had anti-oxidative effect on aging periodontal tissues. 11 These observations lead us to speculate that hydrogen-rich saline may play a protective role in the pathogenesis of COPD.…”

Ionic Detoxification Reduces Obesity and Fatty Liver in Rats Fed a High- Fat Diet

“…Molecular hydrogen is known to be the smallest molecule that can rapidly penetrate biomembranes into cells and displays antioxidant and anti-inflammation activities [14,15]. Even at low concentrations locally or throughout the whole body, molecular hydrogen can act as a signal to regulate cell function [14,16]. It has been shown that drinking hydrogen water can reduce obesity by enhanced fatty acid and glucose expenditure and stimulated energy metabolism [16].…”

“…Hydrogen-rich water has a negative ORP value that can provide electricity to the body and lower the body's electrical potential similar to the action of grounding [4]. Molecular hydrogen is known to be the smallest molecule that can rapidly penetrate biomembranes into cells and displays antioxidant and anti-inflammation activities [14,15]. Even at low concentrations locally or throughout the whole body, molecular hydrogen can act as a signal to regulate cell function [14,16].…”

“…It has been shown that drinking hydrogen water can reduce obesity by enhanced fatty acid and glucose expenditure and stimulated energy metabolism [16]. Taking a hydrogen-rich water bath can also incorporate molecular hydrogen into the skin and distribute it throughout the body via blood flow within only 10 min [14]. Taken together, these data suggest that the reduced adiposity and fatty liver caused by regular ID treatment may be partially due to lower body electrical potential and increased molecular hydrogen uptake from the hydrogen-rich water bath.…”