The Clinical Use of Hydrogen as a Medical Treatment

Abstract

It has been demonstrated that hydrogen molecules possess biological effects, and furthermore, they are colorless, non-toxic, and have a small molecular weight, enabling them to traverse the blood–brain barrier. This review synthesizes more than 100 publications on the use of hydrogen therapy in clinical ailments and categorizes the applications of hydrogen medicine into nine major systemic diseases based on the International Classification of Diseases (ICD)-11. The efficacy of hydrogen therapy is influenced by the in vivo metabolic kinetics associated with different administration routes. In this review, we examine the utilization of hydrogen molecules via various delivery methods and their impact on the treatment of clinical diseases, along with the mechanisms underlying their biological effects.

Study details

Article type

Review

Disease / injury model

Varied

Findings

This paper classifies diseases into 9 major systems based on human physiological functions. Each system is then summarized in terms of the application environment for different hydrogen donors. For example, patients with respiratory diseases, circulatory system issues, or cancer who cannot consume more fluids can benefit from hydrogen inhalation therapy. Exercise system diseases, like fatigue relief and post-exercise lactic acid accumulation, and metabolic diseases should incorporate drinking hydrogen-rich water into their treatment plans. Meanwhile, hydrogen-rich saline is primarily used in cases of skin and eye diseases.