A review of hydrogen as a new medical therapy.
In the past few years many initial and subsequent clinical studies have demonstrated that hydrogen can act as an important physiological regulatory factor to cells and organs on the antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-apoptotic and other protective effects. So far several delivery methods applied in these studies have proved to be available and convenient, including inhalation, drinking hydrogen-dissolved water and injection with hydrogen-saturated saline. This study reviews recent studies on the protectiveness of hydrogen and discusses the possible mechanisms including antioxidant ability as a gaseous signaling molecule, anti-cancer capability and others. It also tries to reveal whether endogenous hydrogen has an important role in the protective system. Nevertheless, there are still many remaining questions in the domain of hydrogen medicine and much work needs to be carried out in the future.
Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Xi'an Jiao Tong University, Xi'an, China.
Jing-Yao
JY
Zhang
Chang
C
Liu
Lei
L
Zhou
Kai
K
Qu
Ruitao
R
Wang
Ming-hui
MH
Tai
Ji-chao Wei
JC
Lei Lei
Qi Fei
QF
Wu
Zhi-xin
ZX
Wang
D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D006859:Hydrogen / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism
D000975:Antioxidants; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D006859:Hydrogen