Hydrogen inhalation therapy may ameliorate amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

Abstract

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a motor neuron disease, a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by sporadic and progressive degenerative loss of cell bodies of both the upper and lower motor neurons. Clinical manifestations of ALS are known to include lower motor neuron symptoms, upper motor neuron symptoms, bulboparesthesia symptoms, cognitive dysfunction, and negative signs. Dissociated small hand atrophy is also known as a characteristic symptom. ALS is always progressive, and once a person has the disease, there is no relief from the symptoms. No matter which part of the body the symptoms start in, eventually all the muscles in the body are affected, and finally the respiratory muscles also stop working, with a majority of people suffering from respiratory failure. Without the use of a ventilator, the time from illness to death is roughly 3–5 years. Since reactive oxygen species are known to be closely related to the onset of ALS, antioxidants are expected to contribute to the suppression of ALS onset and improvement of its symptoms, and a number of antioxidants have been developed as candidates for ALS treatment. However, all of these antioxidants have been used only as a coping strategy, and there is no antioxidant that has been found to fundamentally improve ALS. It has been proposed that molecular hydrogen may inhibit chronic inflammation by scavenging hydroxyl radicals generated within cells and mitochondria, which may have an effect on many diseases caused by chronic inflammation. However, there are no reports of prevention or amelioration of ALS or ALS-related symptoms. This perspective describes the mechanism of action in the development of ALS, touches on the possibility of ALS amelioration by hydrogen, and presents a case in which ALS symptoms were ameliorated by inhalation of hydrogen gas.

Study details

Article type

Case Report

Disease / injury model

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)

Duration

2 months

Dose-dependent effect

No

Outcome

Positive

Findings

Hydrogen gas inhalation may ameliorate symptoms of ALS, as demonstrated in a case where a patient experienced improved muscle tone, walking ability, appetite, bowel movements, blood pressure, blood sugar, and liver function after daily hydrogen inhalation therapy.