Molecular hydrogen, particularly inhaled hydrogen gas, may be beneficial in various respiratory conditions, including COVID-19, asthma, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). This may be due to its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties as well as its low density, which may improve lung airflow.[1]
In a randomized controlled trial, people experiencing persistent symptoms following a COVID-19 infection reported improved physical function (6-minute walking test) and lung function (forced vital capacity and forced expiratory volume) with inhaled hydrogen gas compared to a placebo. Hydrogen gas (100% hydrogen) was inhaled for 1 hour twice a day for 14 days.[2] In an open-label, multicenter trial in hospitalized patients with COVID-19, inhaled hydrogen gas (66.7% hydrogen and 33.3% oxygen) led to reduced disease severity, reduced chest pain, and a faster improvement in shortness of breath and cough compared to participants receiving oxygen gas alone.[3]
Similar benefits have been observed in people with asthma and COPD. In a multicenter randomized controlled trial, patients with an acute exacerbation (a sudden worsening of disease/symptoms) of COPD saw a greater reduction in symptoms when inhaling hydrogen and oxygen gas over 7 days compared to oxygen alone, but there were no differences in lung function.[4] In a study including people with either asthma or COPD, a single dose of hydrogen gas (2.4% hydrogen inhaled for 45 minutes) led to decreased markers of inflammation in the blood and exhaled breath.[5]
This could represent a novel approach to managing respiratory conditions and is certainly worthy of further research.
References
- ^Johnsen HM, Hiorth M, Klaveness JMolecular Hydrogen Therapy-A Review on Clinical Studies and Outcomes.Molecules.(2023 Nov 26)
- ^Botek M, Krejčí J, Valenta M, McKune A, Sládečková B, Konečný P, Klimešová I, Pastucha DMolecular Hydrogen Positively Affects Physical and Respiratory Function in Acute Post-COVID-19 Patients: A New Perspective in Rehabilitation.Int J Environ Res Public Health.(2022 Feb 10)
- ^Guan WJ, Wei CH, Chen AL, Sun XC, Guo GY, Zou X, Shi JD, Lai PZ, Zheng ZG, Zhong NSHydrogen/oxygen mixed gas inhalation improves disease severity and dyspnea in patients with Coronavirus disease 2019 in a recent multicenter, open-label clinical trial.J Thorac Dis.(2020 Jun)
- ^Zheng ZG, Sun WZ, Hu JY, Jie ZJ, Xu JF, Cao J, Song YL, Wang CH, Wang J, Zhao H, Guo ZL, Zhong NSHydrogen/oxygen therapy for the treatment of an acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: results of a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, parallel-group controlled trial.Respir Res.(2021 May 13)
- ^Wang ST, Bao C, He Y, Tian X, Yang Y, Zhang T, Xu KFHydrogen gas (XEN) inhalation ameliorates airway inflammation in asthma and COPD patients.QJM.(2020 Dec 1)