Molecular hydrogen therapy for neurological diseases: a review of current evidence

Abstract

Reactive oxygen species and other free radicals cause oxidative stress which is the underlying pathogenesis of cellular injury in various neurological diseases. Molecular hydrogen therapy with its unique biological property of selectively scavenging pathological free radicals has demonstrated therapeutic potential in innumerable animal studies and some clinical trials. These studies have implicated several cellular pathways affected by hydrogen therapy in explaining its anti-inflammatory and antioxidative effects. This article reviews relevant animal and clinical studies that demonstrate neuroprotective effects of hydrogen therapy in stroke, neurodegenerative diseases, neurotrauma, and global brain injury.

Study details

Article type

Review

Disease / injury model

Neurological diseases (stroke, neurodegenerative diseases, neurotrauma, global brain injury)

Dose comparison

The review mentions studies using different concentrations of hydrogen gas (1%, 1.3%, 2%, 2.9%, 4%, 66%) and compares their effects and tissue concentrations.

Dose-dependent effect

No

Outcome

Positive

Findings

Hydrogen therapy demonstrates neuroprotective effects in animal models and some clinical trials for neurological diseases such as stroke, neurodegenerative diseases, neurotrauma, and global brain injury, with no reported adverse effects in human studies.