Fundamentals
Foundational work on understanding molecular hydrogen in the body.
Human studies on molecular hydrogen for Fundamentals. This page collects the 19 studies catalogued in this area — 3 randomized trials, 1 pilot/observational studies and 11 reviews. Listed newest first.
2024 · Dhillon — Hydrogen Water: Extra Healthy or a Hoax?—A Systematic Review
Hydrogen-rich water (HRW) — healthy or hype? A systematic review of 25 studies concludes: the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects are „encouraging“ in early clinical studies, but not yet conclusive — larger studies are needed.
2023 · Artamonov — Molecular Hydrogen: From Molecular Effects to Stem Cells Management and Tissue Regeneration
H₂ as a tool of regenerative medicine: by the end of 2022, more than 2,000 papers on hydrogen medicine had appeared.
2023 · Kuo — Molecular Hydrogen: Emerging Treatment for Stroke Management
Molecular hydrogen (H₂) is an emerging therapeutic approach in ischemic stroke — antioxidative, anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptotic.
2022 · LeBaron — Electrolyzed-Reduced Water: Review I. Molecular Hydrogen Is the Exclusive Agent Responsible for the Therapeutic Effects
With alkaline electrolyzed-reduced water (ERW), it is not „alkaline water“, not „microclusters“, not „free electrons“ that work — but solely the dissolved molecular hydrogen (H₂).
2021 · Qi — Perspective of Molecular Hydrogen in the Treatment of Sepsis
In sepsis — the most common cause of death in intensive care units — molecular hydrogen (H₂) as a „medical gas“ shows a protective effect on several organs.
2021 · Noda — Neuroprotective and Preventative Effects of Molecular Hydrogen
Hydrogen (H₂) is neuroprotective: this review summarizes how daily H₂ could slow the progression of neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson's and Alzheimer's (for which there are still no specific drugs) — via antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects and via a surprising stomach-brain connection.
2020 · Hu — Molecular hydrogen: A potential radioprotective agent
H₂ as a radioprotective agent: Most radiation damage arises from hydroxyl radicals (•OH) from the radiolysis of water — exactly the radical that H₂ selectively neutralizes.
2020 · Wang — Prospects of molecular hydrogen in perioperative neuroprotection from basic research to clinical application
This systematic review summarizes why molecular hydrogen is being researched as neuroprotection around surgery: antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antiapoptotic and mitochondria-protective effects.
2019 · Zhou — Micro/Nanomaterials-Augmented Hydrogen Therapy
Nanomedicine for hydrogen: H₂ works in oxidative-inflammatory diseases, but diffuses without direction and dissolves poorly in water.
2017 · Iketani — Molecular Hydrogen as a Neuroprotective Agent
Molecular hydrogen (H₂) acts as an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agent and shows potential in neurological disorders — from stroke through neurodegenerative diseases to brain damage in newborns.
2012 · Chuai — Molecular hydrogen and radiation protection
Hydrogen (H₂) as radiation protection: ionizing radiation damages cells mainly via the hydroxyl radical (•OH) — exactly the radical H₂ selectively scavenges.
2026 · Grepl — Sixty-minute inhalation of molecular hydrogen decreases blood oxygen saturation but does not alter autonomic cardiac regulation at rest in healthy females: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover study
One hour of H₂ inhalation at rest lowers blood oxygen saturation minimally (95.9% vs. 96.7%, p ≤ 0.007) without altering autonomic cardiac regulation.
2020 · Sim — Hydrogen-rich water reduces inflammatory responses and prevents apoptosis of peripheral blood cells in healthy adults: a randomized, double-blind, controlled trial
Hydrogen-rich water dampens inflammatory responses and protects blood cells from cell death — in healthy adults.
2021 · Kato — Heat-retention effects of hydrogen-rich water bath assessed by thermography for humans
2025 · An — Hydrogen activates ACOD1-itaconate pathway to ameliorate steroid-associated osteonecrosis
Hydrogen-rich water (HRW) protects bone from cortisone damage: In the mouse model of steroid-induced bone necrosis, H₂ reduced the death of bone cells, improved bone structure and blood perfusion — via activation of the anti-inflammatory ACOD1-itaconate metabolic pathway.
2024 · Cui — High-concentration hydrogen inhalation mitigates sepsis-associated encephalopathy in mice by improving mitochondrial dynamics
Inhaling high-concentration hydrogen (67%) improved the 7-day survival rate and recognition memory in septic mice — through protection of the mitochondria (the power plants of nerve cells) and less inflammation.
2024 · Wang — Natural hydrogen gas and engineered microalgae prevent acute lung injury in sepsis
Inhaled hydrogen gas protects the lung in sepsis — and a novel nanosystem of H₂-releasing particles plus microalgae (DQB@C) amplifies this protection in a mouse model by curbing inflammation, oxidative stress and „ferroptosis“ (iron-dependent cell death).
2007 · Ohsawa — Hydrogen acts as a therapeutic antioxidant by selectively reducing cytotoxic oxygen radicals
Hydrogen (H₂) acts as a selective antioxidant: it specifically neutralizes the most aggressive free radical — the hydroxyl radical (•OH) — while leaving the beneficial, signaling oxygen species untouched.