Molecular Hydrogen: A Promising Adjunctive Strategy for the Treatment of the COVID-19

Abstract

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is an acute respiratory disease caused by a severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), which has no specific and effective treatment. The pathophysiological process of the COVID-19 is an excessive inflammatory response after an organism infects with a virus. Inflammatory storms play an important role in the development of the COVID-19. A large number of studies have confirmed that hydrogen has a therapeutic effect on many diseases via inhibiting excessive inflammatory cells and factors. Recently, a study led by the Academician Zhong Nanshan in China on the treatment of the patients with the COVID-19 by inhalation of a mixed gas composed of hydrogen and oxygen has attracted widespread international attention and hydrogen therapy has also been included in a new treatment plan for the COVID-19 in China. This study mainly describes the mechanism of occurrence of the COVID-19, summarizes the therapeutic effects and underlying mechanisms of hydrogen on the critical disease, and analyzes the feasibility and potential therapeutic targets of hydrogen for the treatment of the COVID-19.

H2inhalation therapy in patients with moderate Covid 19 (H2COVID): a prospective ascending-dose phase 1 clinical trial

“…The clinical and biological observations of our study are consistent with the literature, considering that H 2 has been described as able to reduce lung injury and thus to reduce the number of critically ill patients [31]. Another literature review has explained that H 2 could directly enter the lung tissue through ventilatory activities and exert anti-inflammatory effects at the multiple stages of the inflammatory response, alleviating the airway damage caused by the excessive activation of the inflammatory cells and the massive release of inflammatory factors [32]. In addition, during Covid-19 associated pulmonary injury, activation of resident alveolar macrophages has led to the release of potent proinflammatory mediators and chemokines that promote the accumulation of neutrophils and monocytes [33].…”

Molecular Hydrogen Positively Affects Physical and Respiratory Function in Acute Post-COVID-19 Patients: A New Perspective in Rehabilitation

“…Numerous studies have indicated that H 2 has anti-inflammatory [ 22 ], anti-apoptosis [ 23 ], antifatigue [ 24 , 25 , 26 , 27 ], and regulatory properties [ 28 ]. Based on the reported beneficial health effects across a variety of diagnoses [ 22 , 29 ], H 2 administration has recently been proposed as a promising therapeutic gas for COVID-19 patients [ 7 , 30 , 31 , 32 , 33 , 34 , 35 ]. For instance, Guan et al [ 36 ] showed clinically beneficial effects of a hydrogen/oxygen (H 2 –O 2 ; 66–33%) mixed gas inhalation for the amelioration of most respiratory symptoms, such as dyspnea, chest distress, or cough, within days 2 and 3 of hospitalization for COVID-19 patients.…”

The Influence of Molecular Hydrogen Therapies in Managing the Symptoms of Acute and Chronic COVID-19

“…3 Although approximately 80% of people who contracted COVID-19 in the first instance were asymptomatic, or experienced mild flu-like symptoms, 4 the initial wave of disease caused a significant burden for healthcare industries as 15% of patients required nosocomial care, and a further 5% needing critical ministrations. 5 Considering patient well-being and the impact this has on global socioeconomic factors, a report commissioned by the WHO in February of 2020 declared the median time for clinical recovery in mild cases of COVID-19 was 14 days, whilst analysis of recovery rates in severe or critical illness found 21-42 days were more typical. 6 In symptomatic patients, COVID-19 typically presents with episodes of continuous, non-productive coughing, fever, a loss of olfactory and gustatory senses, and musculoskeletal and respiratory distress.…”