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Hydrogen's biological and therapeutic effects
Research Guide
What is Hydrogen's biological and therapeutic effects?
Hydrogen's biological and therapeutic effects refer to the selective antioxidant properties of molecular hydrogen (H2) that reduce cytotoxic oxygen radicals, mitigating oxidative stress and inflammation in various disease models including neurodegenerative diseases, diabetes, cardiovascular disorders, and ischemia-reperfusion injuries.
Molecular hydrogen acts as a therapeutic antioxidant by selectively targeting harmful reactive oxygen species while sparing beneficial ones, as demonstrated in cellular and animal models. Research encompasses 19,229 papers exploring its roles in reducing oxidative stress, providing neuroprotection, and alleviating inflammation across conditions like metabolic syndrome and gastrointestinal mucosal diseases. Studies highlight its mechanisms in organs and its implications for aging-related pathologies.
Topic Hierarchy
Research Sub-Topics
Molecular Hydrogen in Neuroprotection
Researchers investigate hydrogen-rich water and gas inhalation for mitigating oxidative damage in Parkinson's, Alzheimer's, and stroke models. Studies focus on mechanisms like Nrf2 activation and blood-brain barrier penetration.
Hydrogen Therapy for Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury
This sub-topic examines hydrogen's role in reducing infarct size and inflammation in myocardial, cerebral, and renal ischemia-reperfusion models. Preclinical trials explore dosing regimens and delivery via saline infusion.
Antioxidant Effects of Molecular Hydrogen
Scientists study hydrogen's selective scavenging of hydroxyl radicals and peroxynitrite in cellular and animal oxidative stress models. Research includes biomarker assays and comparisons with other antioxidants.
Hydrogen in Diabetes and Metabolic Syndrome
Studies evaluate hydrogen supplementation for improving insulin sensitivity, glycemic control, and lipid profiles in diabetic models. Focus is on anti-inflammatory pathways and mitochondrial function restoration.
Anti-Inflammatory Mechanisms of Molecular Hydrogen
Researchers elucidate hydrogen's modulation of NF-κB, cytokines, and NLRP3 inflammasome in sepsis, arthritis, and lung injury models. Molecular signaling pathways and clinical translation are key emphases.
Why It Matters
Molecular hydrogen therapy addresses oxidative stress, a key factor in diseases such as aging-related conditions and gastrointestinal mucosal injuries. Ohsawa et al. (2007) showed that hydrogen selectively reduces cytotoxic oxygen radicals, protecting cells from damage in ischemia-reperfusion models, which has applications in cardiovascular surgery and neuroprotection. Liguori et al. (2018) linked oxidative stress imbalances to aging and diseases, where hydrogen's antioxidant action could mitigate reactive oxygen and nitrogen species effects, as seen in 2437 citations for the foundational hydrogen paper. Bhattacharyya et al. (2014) detailed ROS involvement in gastrointestinal diseases, suggesting hydrogen's potential to neutralize these by-products from metabolic activities and external factors like UV radiation.
Reading Guide
Where to Start
'Hydrogen acts as a therapeutic antioxidant by selectively reducing cytotoxic oxygen radicals' by Ohsawa et al. (2007) is the first paper to read because it establishes the core mechanism of hydrogen's selectivity for cytotoxic radicals, cited 2437 times as the foundational therapeutic study.
Key Papers Explained
Ohsawa et al. (2007) in 'Hydrogen acts as a therapeutic antioxidant by selectively reducing cytotoxic oxygen radicals' introduces hydrogen's selective radical reduction, building the basis for later oxidative stress research. Liguori et al. (2018) in 'Oxidative stress, aging, and diseases' expands this to aging pathologies caused by RONS imbalances. Bhattacharyya et al. (2014) in 'Oxidative Stress: An Essential Factor in the Pathogenesis of Gastrointestinal Mucosal Diseases' applies similar ROS mechanisms to specific mucosal injuries. Sies et al. (2022) in 'Defining roles of specific reactive oxygen species (ROS) in cell biology and physiology' refines ROS roles that hydrogen targets. Chance et al. (1979) in 'Hydroperoxide metabolism in mammalian organs' provides essential background on organ-specific peroxide handling.
Paper Timeline
Most-cited paper highlighted in red. Papers ordered chronologically.
Advanced Directions
Research remains anchored in established mechanisms from top-cited papers like Ohsawa et al. (2007) and Sies et al. (2022), with no recent preprints in the last 6 months or news in the last 12 months signaling active frontiers. Ongoing work likely extends to ischemia-reperfusion in surgery and neuroprotection amid 19,229 total papers.
Papers at a Glance
| # | Paper | Year | Venue | Citations | Open Access |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hydroperoxide metabolism in mammalian organs. | 1979 | Physiological Reviews | 5.8K | ✕ |
| 2 | Water: A Comprehensive Treatise | 1979 | — | 4.1K | ✕ |
| 3 | Oxidative stress, aging, and diseases | 2018 | Clinical Interventions... | 3.7K | ✓ |
| 4 | Hydrogen acts as a therapeutic antioxidant by selectively redu... | 2007 | Nature Medicine | 2.4K | ✕ |
| 5 | Oxidative Stress: An Essential Factor in the Pathogenesis of G... | 2014 | Physiological Reviews | 2.4K | ✓ |
| 6 | Physiological Implications of Hydrogen Sulfide: A Whiff Explor... | 2012 | Physiological Reviews | 1.9K | ✕ |
| 7 | Role of nitric oxide synthesis in macrophage antimicrobial act... | 1991 | Current Opinion in Imm... | 1.5K | ✕ |
| 8 | Mitochondrial transfer from bone-marrow–derived stromal cells ... | 2012 | Nature Medicine | 1.5K | ✓ |
| 9 | Defining roles of specific reactive oxygen species (ROS) in ce... | 2022 | Nature Reviews Molecul... | 1.4K | ✕ |
| 10 | New approaches and procedures for cancer treatment: Current pe... | 2021 | SAGE Open Medicine | 1.4K | ✓ |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary mechanism of molecular hydrogen's therapeutic effect?
Molecular hydrogen acts as a therapeutic antioxidant by selectively reducing cytotoxic oxygen radicals. Ohsawa et al. (2007) in 'Hydrogen acts as a therapeutic antioxidant by selectively reducing cytotoxic oxygen radicals' demonstrated this selectivity preserves beneficial reactive species. This mechanism reduces oxidative stress without disrupting normal cellular signaling.
How does oxidative stress relate to hydrogen's biological effects?
Oxidative stress arises from an imbalance between reactive oxygen and nitrogen species production and antioxidant defenses. Liguori et al. (2018) in 'Oxidative stress, aging, and diseases' explain this imbalance contributes to aging and diseases, where hydrogen neutralizes excess species. Sies et al. (2022) in 'Defining roles of specific reactive oxygen species (ROS) in cell biology and physiology' define specific ROS roles that hydrogen targets therapeutically.
What role does hydrogen play in gastrointestinal diseases?
Reactive oxygen species generated from cellular metabolism contribute to gastrointestinal mucosal diseases. Bhattacharyya et al. (2014) in 'Oxidative Stress: An Essential Factor in the Pathogenesis of Gastrointestinal Mucosal Diseases' identify enzymes like superoxide dismutase that counter ROS, which hydrogen supports. Hydrogen reduces these damaging effects from sources like UV radiation and cigarette smoke.
How does hydrogen therapy apply to ischemia-reperfusion injury?
Hydrogen provides neuroprotection in ischemia-reperfusion injuries by mitigating oxidative stress. Ohsawa et al. (2007) showed its efficacy in reducing cytotoxic radicals in such models. This extends to cardiovascular disorders and surgery-related applications.
What is the current state of research on hydrogen's effects?
The field includes 19,229 papers focused on molecular hydrogen as an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agent. Key works like Ohsawa et al. (2007) with 2437 citations establish its selective radical reduction. No recent preprints or news coverage from the last 12 months indicate steady accumulation without new surges.
Open Research Questions
- ? How does molecular hydrogen selectively distinguish cytotoxic from physiological oxygen radicals at the molecular level?
- ? What are the long-term therapeutic outcomes of hydrogen administration in clinical trials for neurodegenerative diseases?
- ? Can hydrogen therapy synergize with existing antioxidants to enhance protection against ischemia-reperfusion injuries?
- ? What dosage and delivery methods optimize hydrogen's anti-inflammatory effects in metabolic syndrome models?
- ? How do organ-specific hydroperoxide metabolisms influence hydrogen's efficacy across mammalian tissues?
Recent Trends
The field has accumulated 19,229 papers on molecular hydrogen's effects, with top citations steady from Ohsawa et al. at 2437 for therapeutic antioxidant action and Liguori et al. (2018) at 3729 for oxidative stress in aging.
2007No growth rate over 5 years, recent preprints, or news coverage in the last 12 months indicates stable research volume without acceleration.
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