Role of Molecular Hydrogen in Ageing and Ageing-Related Diseases

Abstract

Ageing is a physiological process of progressive decline in the organism function over time. It affects every organ in the body and is a significant risk for chronic diseases. Molecular hydrogen has therapeutic and preventive effects on various organs. It has antioxidative properties as it directly neutralizes hydroxyl radicals and reduces peroxynitrite level. It also activates Nrf2 and HO-1, which regulate many antioxidant enzymes and proteasomes. Through its antioxidative effect, hydrogen maintains genomic stability, mitigates cellular senescence, and takes part in histone modification, telomere maintenance, and proteostasis. In addition, hydrogen may prevent inflammation and regulate the nutrient-sensing mTOR system, autophagy, apoptosis, and mitochondria, which are all factors related to ageing. Hydrogen can also be used for prevention and treatment of various ageing-related diseases, such as neurodegenerative disorders, cardiovascular disease, pulmonary disease, diabetes, and cancer. This paper reviews the basic research and recent application of hydrogen in order to support hydrogen use in medicine for ageing prevention and ageing-related disease therapy.

Study details

Article type

Review

Disease / injury model

Ageing and Ageing-Related Diseases (Neurodegenerative disorders, CVD, pulmonary disease, diabetes, cancer)

Dose-dependent effect

No

Outcome

Positive

Findings

Molecular hydrogen exerts antioxidative, anti-inflammatory, and cytoprotective effects that may delay ageing and prevent or treat ageing-related diseases such as neurodegenerative disorders, cardiovascular disease, pulmonary disease, diabetes, and cancer. It acts through multiple mechanisms including direct radical scavenging, modulation of gene expression, regulation of autophagy, mTOR, apoptosis, and mitochondrial function.