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Respiratory / COVID

Airways and lungs — including studies from the COVID-19 period — where H₂ (often inhaled) is tested for effects on breathlessness and inflammation.

Human studies on molecular hydrogen for Respiratory / COVID. This page collects the 102 studies catalogued in this area — 7 randomized trials, 27 pilot/observational studies and 26 reviews. Listed newest first.

2026 Review / Meta-analysis Inhalation

2026 · Nguyen Puente — Emerging Clinical Applications for Molecular Hydrogen

Respiratory care
2025 Review / Meta-analysis Unspecified

2025 · Zajac — Molecular Hydrogen in the Treatment of Respiratory Diseases

International journal of molecular sciences
2025 Review / Meta-analysis Unspecified

2025 · Neykhonji — Exploring the Potential of H₂ Therapy in Reducing Surgical Complications: A Review on Anti-inflammatory, Antioxidant, and Anti-fibrotic Mechanisms

Current pharmaceutical design
2024 Review / Meta-analysis Drinking (HRW)

2024 · Dhillon — Hydrogen Water: Extra Healthy or a Hoax?—A Systematic Review

International Journal of Molecular Sciences
2023 Review / Meta-analysis Inhalation

2023 · Johnsen et al. — Molecular Hydrogen Therapy — A Review on Clinical Studies and Outcomes

Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
2023 Review / Meta-analysis InhalationDrinking (HRW)

2023 · Li — Trend of research on the medical use of molecular hydrogen: a bibliometric analysis

Medical gas research
2022 Review / Meta-analysis Inhalation

2022 · Biswas — Electrocoagulation and electrooxidation technologies for pesticide removal from water or wastewater: A review

Chemosphere
2022 Review / Meta-analysis Unspecified

2022 · Fu — Role of Molecular Hydrogen in Ageing and Ageing-Related Diseases

Oxidative medicine and cellular longevity
2022 Review / Meta-analysis Unspecified

2022 · Zhang et al. — Molecular Hydrogen Is a Potential Protective Agent in the Management of Acute Lung Injury

Molecular medicine (Cambridge, Mass.)
2022 Review / Meta-analysis Unspecified

2022 · Ahmad et al. — Narrative on Hydrogen Therapy and its Clinical Applications: Safety and Efficacy

Current pharmaceutical design
2022 Review / Meta-analysis Unspecified

2022 · Fu — Molecular hydrogen is a promising therapeutic agent for pulmonary disease

Journal of Zhejiang University. Science. B
2021 Review / Meta-analysis Unspecified

2021 · Qi — Perspective of Molecular Hydrogen in the Treatment of Sepsis

Current Pharmaceutical Design
2021 Review / Meta-analysis Unspecified

2021 · Alwazeer — Combating Oxidative Stress and Inflammation in COVID-19 by Molecular Hydrogen Therapy: Mechanisms and Perspectives.

Oxidative medicine and cellular longevity
2021 Review / Meta-analysis InhalationDrinking (HRW)

2021 · Bragina — Intestinal microbiota of athletes.

Voprosy pitaniia
2021 Review / Meta-analysis InhalationSaline / IVBath / TopicalDrinking (HRW)

2021 · Quan — Protective effects of molecular hydrogen on lung injury from lung transplantation.

Experimental biology and medicine (Maywood, N.J.)
2021 Review / Meta-analysis Unspecified

2021 · Hirano — Potential Therapeutic Applications of Hydrogen in Chronic Inflammatory Diseases: Possible Inhibiting Role on Mitochondrial Stress.

International journal of molecular sciences
2021 Review / Meta-analysis Inhalation

2021 · Chen et al. — Chemical and Biochemical Aspects of Molecular Hydrogen in Treating Kawasaki Disease and COVID-19.

Chemical research in toxicology
2021 Review / Meta-analysis InhalationSaline / IV

2021 · Sano et al. — Hydrogen Gas Therapy: From Preclinical Studies to Clinical Trials.

Current pharmaceutical design
2021 Review / Meta-analysis Unspecified

2021 · Ohta — Direct Targets and Subsequent Pathways for Molecular Hydrogen to Exert Multiple Functions: Focusing on Interventions in Radical Reactions

Current pharmaceutical design
2021 Review / Meta-analysis Unspecified

2021 · Lucas — Molecular hydrogen (H₂) as a potential treatment for acute and chronic fatigue

Archiv der Pharmazie
2020 Review / Meta-analysis Drinking (HRW)

2020 · Benoit — Molecular Hydrogen Metabolism: a Widespread Trait of Pathogenic Bacteria and Protists

Microbiology and molecular biology reviews : MMBR
2018 Review / Meta-analysis Saline / IVDrinking (HRW)

2018 · Chen — Research progress of hydrogen-rich saline for eye diseases.

[Zhonghua yan ke za zhi] Chinese journal of ophthalmology
2016 Review / Meta-analysis Unspecified

2016 · Zheng — Molecular Hydrogen Therapy Ameliorates Organ Damage Induced by Sepsis

Oxidative medicine and cellular longevity
2013 Review / Meta-analysis Inhalation

2013 · Lucas — Role of the Toll Like receptor (TLR) radical cycle in chronic inflammation: possible treatments targeting the TLR4 pathway

Molecular neurobiology
2012 Review / Meta-analysis Drinking (HRW)

2012 · Ohno et al. — Molecular hydrogen as an emerging therapeutic medical gas for neurodegenerative and other diseases.

Oxidative medicine and cellular longevity
2003 Review / Meta-analysis Unspecified

2003 · Maier — Availability and use of molecular hydrogen as an energy substrate for Helicobacter species

Microbes and infection
2025 RCT Human H₂ therapy Drinking (HRW)

2025 · Zhang — Hydrogen-rich water supplementation attenuates oxidative stress and inflammation in chronic high-altitude disease patients: A double-blind randomized placebo-controlled study

Food Research International
2025 RCT Human H₂ therapy Unspecified

2025 · Shogenova — Efficiency and Safety of the Combined Use of Thermal Heliox, Nitric Oxide and Molecular Hydrogen in COPD Exacerbation with Respiratory Failure and Pulmonary Hypertension in the Post-COVID Period

Terapevticheskii arkhiv
2024 RCT Human H₂ therapy Drinking (HRW)

2024 · Tan — The Effect of 14-Day Consumption of Hydrogen-Rich Water Alleviates Fatigue but Does Not Ameliorate Dyspnea in Long-COVID Patients: A Pilot, Single-Blind, and Randomized, Controlled Trial

Nutrients
2022 RCT Human H₂ therapy Inhalation

2022 · Botek — Molecular Hydrogen Positively Affects Physical and Respiratory Function in Acute Post-COVID-19 Patients: A New Perspective in Rehabilitation

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
2020 RCT Human H₂ therapy Saline / IVBath / Topical

2020 · Jin — Changes of nasal nitric oxide in the treatment of allergic rhinitis with hydrogen-rich saline lavage of nasal cavity

Lin chuang er bi yan hou tou jing wai ke za zhi (Journal of Clinical Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery)
2016 RCT Human H₂ therapy Inhalation

2016 · Gong et al. — Protective effect of hydrogen on the lung of sanitation workers exposed to haze.

Zhonghua jie he he hu xi za zhi = Zhonghua jiehe he huxi zazhi = Chinese journal of tuberculosis and respiratory diseases
1999 RCT

1999 · Cole — Consequences of incomplete carbohydrate absorption from fruit juice consumption in infants.

Archives of pediatrics & adolescent medicine
2026 Pilot / Observational Human H₂ therapy InhalationBath / Topical

2026 · Pozdnyakova — The combined use of inhaled nitric oxide and molecular hydrogen in patients with post-COVID-19 syndrome

Terapevticheskii arkhiv
2026 Pilot / Observational Human H₂ therapy Drinking (HRW)

2026 · Li — Adjunctive Molecular Hydrogen Capsule Therapy in Empyema Complicated by Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy: A Case Report

In vivo (Athens, Greece)
2026 Pilot / Observational Human H₂ therapy Unspecified

2026 · Liu et al. — Adjuvant Molecular Hydrogen Therapy in SLE-associated Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension: A Case Report on Immunomodulatory Effects on Regulatory and Effector Lymphocytes

In vivo (Athens, Greece)
2025 Pilot / Observational Human H₂ therapy Inhalation

2025 · Habet et al. — Hydrogen-FAST: Study Protocol for Inhaled Hydrogen Gas as Adjunctive Therapy in Refractory Cardiac Arrest (ECPR)

Trials
2025 Pilot / Observational Human H₂ therapy Unspecified

2025 · Liu et al. — Dynamic Immunomodulation by Hydrogen Capsule Therapy in SLE-associated Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension: A Case Report

In vivo (Athens, Greece)
2025 Pilot / Observational Human H₂ therapy Drinking (HRW)

2025 · Lui et al. — Predicting Therapeutic Response to Molecular Hydrogen in Autoimmune Diseases via Immunophenotyping

APMIS : acta pathologica, microbiologica, et immunologica Scandinavica
2025 Pilot / Observational Human H₂ therapy Unspecified

2025 · Tsai et al. — Molecular Hydrogen as an Adjuvant Therapy in Comorbid Sjögren's Syndrome, SLE, and ILD: A Case Report on Immune Modulation and Fatigue Reduction

In vivo (Athens, Greece)
2025 Pilot / Observational Human H₂ therapy Unspecified

2025 · Tu et al. — Molecular Hydrogen Therapy for SLE-PAH: Case Report on Immune Marker Modulation

In vivo (Athens, Greece)
2024 Pilot / Observational Human H₂ therapy Inhalation

2024 · Pozdnyakova — Rehabilitation program of post-COVID-19 syndrome with the use of nitric oxide and molecular hydrogen

Terapevticheskii Arkhiv
2024 Pilot / Observational Human H₂ therapy InhalationBath / Topical

2024 · Salomez-Ihl — H2 inhalation therapy in patients with moderate COVID-19 (H2COVID): a prospective ascending-dose phase I clinical trial

Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy
2024 Pilot / Observational Human H₂ therapy Unspecified

2024 · Lin — Molecular Hydrogen Therapy in Sjögren's Syndrome With Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension and Right-sided Heart Failure: A Case Report of Improved Immune Markers Including Treg, B Cells and Plasma Cell.

In vivo (Athens, Greece)
2024 Pilot / Observational Human H₂ therapy InhalationSaline / IV

2024 · Mu — Hydrogen regulated pyroptosis through NLRP3-GSDMD pathway to improve airway mucosal oxidative stress injury induced by endotracheal tube cuff compression.

Free radical biology & medicine
2024 Pilot / Observational Human H₂ therapy Unspecified

2024 · Lui — Molecular Hydrogen as a Promising Therapy Could Be Linked With Increased Resting Treg Cells or Decreased Fas+ T Cell Subsets in a IgG4-PF-ILD Patient: A Case Report.

In vivo (Athens, Greece)
2024 Pilot / Observational Human H₂ therapy Inhalation

2024 · Liu — The Benefit of Hydrogen Gas as an Adjunctive Therapy for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.

Medicina (Kaunas, Lithuania)
2021 Pilot / Observational Human H₂ therapy Inhalation

2021 · Danilova — Application of Molecular Hydrogen in Heart Surgery under Cardiopulmonary Bypass

Sovremennye tekhnologii v meditsine
2020 Pilot / Observational Human H₂ therapy Inhalation

2020 · Chen — Two weeks of hydrogen inhalation can significantly reverse adaptive and innate immune system senescence in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer: a self-controlled study

Medical Gas Research
2020 Pilot / Observational Human H₂ therapy Inhalation

2020 · Chen et al. — Hydrogen therapy can be used to control tumor progression and alleviate the adverse events of medications in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer.

Medical gas research
2020 Pilot / Observational Human H₂ therapy Inhalation

2020 · Wang et al. — Hydrogen gas (XEN) inhalation ameliorates airway inflammation in asthma and COPD patients.

QJM : monthly journal of the Association of Physicians
2019 Pilot / Observational Human H₂ therapy Inhalation

2019 · Chen et al. — „Real world survey“ of hydrogen-controlled cancer: a follow-up report of 82 advanced cancer patients.

Medical gas research
2016 Pilot / Observational

2016 · Maity et al. — Molecular hydrogen in human breath: a new strategy for selectively diagnosing peptic ulcer disease, non-ulcerous dyspepsia and Helicobacter pylori infection.

Journal of breath research
1995 Pilot / Observational

1995 · Hundley et al. — Assessment of left-to-right intracardiac shunting by velocity-encoded, phase-difference magnetic resonance imaging

Circulation
1994 Pilot / Observational

1994 · Parnes et al. — Chemotherapy-induced lactose intolerance in adults

Cancer
1994 Pilot / Observational

1994 · Nakahara et al. — Evaluation of tracheal mucosal blood flow during an extended radical operation for esophageal carcinoma

Surgery today
1993 Pilot / Observational

1993 · Glamann et al. — Hydrogen inhalation for detecting intracardiac left-to-right shunting in adults

The American journal of cardiology
1990 Pilot / Observational

1990 · Flores et al. — Assessment of the Sensitivity of Hydrogen Inhalation in the Detection of Left-to-Right Shunting

Catheterization and cardiovascular diagnosis
1987 Pilot / Observational

1987 · Niggemann et al. — Detection of Intracardiac Left-to-Right Shunting in Adults: A Prospective Analysis of the Variability of the Standard Indocyanine Green Technique

The American journal of cardiology
1959 Pilot / Observational

1959 · CLARK LC Jr — Left-to-right shunt detection by an intravascular electrode with hydrogen as an indicator.

Science (New York, N.Y.)
2026 Mechanism / Preclinical Unspecified

2026 · Jiao — Therapeutic Potential of Magnesium Diboride Nanosheets in PAH-Associated Right Heart Failure: Integrated Multi-Omics Analysis Reveals Ferroptosis Suppression via LC3/ATG5/NCOA4/FTH1 Pathway

Free radical biology & medicine
2025 Mechanism / Preclinical Drinking (HRW)

2025 · Seya — Hydrogen-rich Gas Enhances Mitochondrial Membrane Potential and Respiratory Function Recovery in Caco-2 Cells Post-ischemia-reperfusion Injury

Biochemical and biophysical research communications
2025 Mechanism / Preclinical Unspecified

2025 · Li — Hydrogen promoted mitochondrial autophagy and alleviated CIH-induced vascular endothelial cell senescence by regulating oxidative stress.

European journal of pharmacology
2025 Mechanism / Preclinical InhalationDrinking (HRW)

2025 · Liu — Hydrogen-induced disruption of the airway mucus barrier enhances nebulized RNA delivery to reverse pulmonary fibrosis.

Science advances
2025 Mechanism / Preclinical Unspecified

2025 · Su — Multifaceted Immunomodulatory Nanocomplexes Target Neutrophilic-ROS Inflammation in Acute Lung Injury.

Advanced science (Weinheim, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany)
2025 Mechanism / Preclinical Unspecified

2025 · Jiang — Engineering probiotic biohydrogen micro-factories to initiate reductive stress for boosting tumor vulnerability.

Biomaterials
2024 Mechanism / Preclinical Unspecified

2024 · Haribabu — Multifaceted exploration of acylthiourea compounds: In vitro cytotoxicity, DFT calculations, molecular docking and dynamics simulation studies.

International journal of biological macromolecules
2024 Mechanism / Preclinical Drinking (HRW)

2024 · Li — Hydrogen-rich water alleviates asthma airway inflammation by modulating tryptophan metabolism and activating aryl hydrocarbon receptor via gut microbiota regulation.

Free radical biology & medicine
2024 Mechanism / Preclinical Inhalation

2024 · Wang — Natural hydrogen gas and engineered microalgae prevent acute lung injury in sepsis

Materials Today Bio
2023 Mechanism / Preclinical InhalationSaline / IV

2023 · Aokage — Attenuation of pulmonary damage in aged lipopolysaccharide-induced inflammation mice through continuous 2 % hydrogen gas inhalation: A potential therapeutic strategy for geriatric inflammation and survival

Experimental gerontology
2021 Mechanism / Preclinical InhalationDrinking (HRW)

2021 · Yin et al. — Hydrogen Gas with Extracorporeal Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation Improves Survival after Prolonged Cardiac Arrest in Rats

Journal of translational medicine
2021 Mechanism / Preclinical Inhalation

2021 · Zhang — Molecular hydrogen alleviates asthma through inhibiting IL-33/ILC2 axis

Inflammation research : official journal of the European Histamine Research Society ... [et al.]
2021 Mechanism / Preclinical Unspecified

2021 · V — Investigations of Dianhydro-D-glucitol adsorbed on AuNPs surface: In silico and in vitro approach based on anticancer activity studies against A549 lung cancer cell lines

Journal of molecular recognition : JMR
2021 Mechanism / Preclinical Inhalation

2021 · Li — Hydrogen Attenuates Endotoxin-Induced Lung Injury by Activating Thioredoxin 1 and Decreasing Tissue Factor Expression

Frontiers in immunology
2021 Mechanism / Preclinical Inhalation

2021 · Matsuura — Hydrogen Gas Therapy Attenuates Inflammatory Pathway Signaling in Septic Mice

The Journal of surgical research
2021 Mechanism / Preclinical Unspecified

2021 · Wang et al. — Hydrogen therapy as an effective and novel adjuvant treatment against COVID-19

QJM : monthly journal of the Association of Physicians
2021 Mechanism / Preclinical Unspecified

2021 · Wang et al. — Response to: Hydrogen therapy as an effective and novel adjuvant treatment against COVID-19

QJM : monthly journal of the Association of Physicians
2020 Mechanism / Preclinical Inhalation

2020 · Ostojic — COVID-19 and Molecular Hydrogen Inhalation

Therapeutic advances in respiratory disease
2020 Mechanism / Preclinical Drinking (HRW)

2020 · Li — Hydrogen Water Alleviates Paraquat-induced Lung Fibroblast Injury In Vitro by Enhancing Nrf2 Expression

Nan fang yi ke da xue xue bao = Journal of Southern Medical University
2020 Mechanism / Preclinical Inhalation

2020 · Meng — Hydrogen Gas Represses the Progression of Lung Cancer via Down-regulating CD47

Bioscience reports
2020 Mechanism / Preclinical Inhalation

2020 · Oh — Untethered Soft Robotics with Fully Integrated Wireless Sensing and Actuating Systems for Somatosensory and Respiratory Functions.

Soft robotics
2020 Mechanism / Preclinical Unspecified

2020 · Niu — Hydrogen Attenuates Allergic Inflammation by Reversing Energy Metabolic Pathway Switch

Scientific Reports
2019 Mechanism / Preclinical Inhalation

2019 · Chen et al. — Inhaling Hydrogen Ameliorates Early Postresuscitation EEG Characteristics in an Asphyxial Cardiac Arrest Rat Model.

BioMed research international
2019 Mechanism / Preclinical Unspecified

2019 · Kröninger — Energy Conservation in the Gut Microbe Methanomassiliicoccus luminyensis Is Based on Membrane-Bound Ferredoxin Oxidation Coupled to Heterodisulfide Reduction

The FEBS journal
2019 Mechanism / Preclinical Bath / Topical

2019 · Meng — Hyperoxygenated Hydrogen-Rich Solution Suppresses Lung Injury Induced by Hemorrhagic Shock in Rats.

The Journal of surgical research
2019 Mechanism / Preclinical Inhalation

2019 · Yu — Hydrogen gas reduces HMGB1 release in lung tissues of septic mice in an Nrf2/HO-1-dependent pathway.

International immunopharmacology
2018 Mechanism / Preclinical Inhalation

2018 · Dong — Protective effects of hydrogen gas against sepsis-induced acute lung injury via regulation of mitochondrial function and dynamics

International immunopharmacology
2018 Mechanism / Preclinical Unspecified

2018 · Vasiliev — Reducing Humidity Response of Gas Sensors for Medical Applications: Use of Spark Discharge Synthesis of Metal Oxide Nanoparticles

Sensors (Basel, Switzerland)
2018 Mechanism / Preclinical Saline / IV

2018 · Jiang — Therapeutic efficacy of hydrogen-rich saline alone and in combination with PI3K inhibitor in non-small cell lung cancer

Molecular medicine reports
2018 Mechanism / Preclinical Inhalation

2018 · Wang — Hydrogen gas inhibits lung cancer progression through targeting SMC3

Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie
2017 Mechanism / Preclinical Saline / IVBath / Topical

2017 · Zhao — Changes in IL-4 and IL-13 Expression in Allergic Rhinitis Treated with Hydrogen-Rich Saline in a Guinea-Pig Model

Allergologia et immunopathologia
2016 Mechanism / Preclinical Inhalation

2016 · Wang — Hydrogen Metabolism in Helicobacter pylori Plays a Role in Gastric Carcinogenesis through Facilitating CagA Translocation

mBio
2016 Mechanism / Preclinical InhalationDrinking (HRW)

2016 · Muramatsu — Hydrogen-Rich Water Ameliorates Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia (BPD) in Newborn Rats

Pediatric pulmonology
2016 Mechanism / Preclinical Unspecified

2016 · Mohamed — Antioxidants and K⁺ Channel Agonists versus Hydrogen Therapy during Ex Vivo Lung Perfusion

European journal of cardio-thoracic surgery : official journal of the European Association for Cardio-thoracic Surgery
2015 Mechanism / Preclinical Unspecified

2015 · Chen et al. — Molecular hydrogen protects mice against polymicrobial sepsis by ameliorating endothelial dysfunction via an Nrf2/HO-1 signaling pathway.

International immunopharmacology
2015 Mechanism / Preclinical Saline / IV

2015 · Hattori et al. — Maternal molecular hydrogen treatment attenuates lipopolysaccharide-induced rat fetal lung injury.

Free radical research
2011 Mechanism / Preclinical Inhalation

2011 · Terasaki — Hydrogen Therapy Attenuates Irradiation-Induced Lung Damage by Reducing Oxidative Stress

American journal of physiology. Lung cellular and molecular physiology
2009 Mechanism / Preclinical Unspecified

2009 · Kovala-Demertzi — Organotin meclofenamic complexes: Synthesis, crystal structures and antiproliferative activity of the first complexes of meclofenamic acid — novel anti-tuberculosis agents.

Journal of inorganic biochemistry
2008 Mechanism / Preclinical Unspecified

2008 · Benchimol — The hydrogenosome as a drug target.

Current pharmaceutical design
2008 Mechanism / Preclinical Drinking (HRW)

2008 · Ye — Inhibitory effect of electrolyzed reduced water on tumor angiogenesis.

Biological & pharmaceutical bulletin
2005 Mechanism / Preclinical Unspecified

2005 · Maier — Use of molecular hydrogen as an energy substrate by human pathogenic bacteria

Biochemical Society transactions
1996 Mechanism / Preclinical Inhalation

1996 · Franić — Radiotoxicity of Tritiated Water and Tritiated Hydrogen

Arhiv za higijenu rada i toksikologiju