Hydrogen is the smallest element on the periodic table, though in its pure form, it tends to exist in a diatomic state, or as H2, which is a gas. This is because electrons are unstable by themselves, and like to pair up, but each hydrogen has only a single electron. In the H2 state, each atom can share the other atom’s electron, and everybody is happy. (This will be important later.)
The body produces large amounts of it in the gut already, though excessive amounts of it are diagnostic of SIBO.
And yet, H2 has quite a number of health benefits (as does H2S, also produced by SIBO when needed—perhaps SIBO is therefore a problem symptomatically, but even so, it may be the body’s adaptive response). H2 serves as a gasotransmitter throughout the body, and it’s a powerful antioxidant with unique properties because of its small size. It can easily penetrate otherwise tight barriers, diffusing into cells, even into the cell nuclei and mitochondria, as well as across the blood brain barrier.
Molecular Hydrogen (H2) Decreases Oxidative Stress
As I mentioned earlier, electrons like to have a buddy. As long as they do, they won’t cause any trouble. When an electron is unpaired, however, it becomes highly reactive, a free radical.
The nutritional world has been abuzz with discussion of NAD+, the activated version of Vitamin B3, as a super supplement for oxidative stress, energy, and anti-aging. This is because it’s one of the primary electron donors into the mitochondria, where food and oxygen turn into energy. However, all antioxidants throughout the body exist in a kind of continuous dance; one quenches a free radical, but then becomes useless itself until it’s recharged again by another antioxidant. NAD+ can become NADPH with an extra hydrogen donated by H2, such that it can donate electrons to the main antioxidants in the body, primarily glutathione, Vitamin C, and Vitamin E.
Not only that, but the enzyme that breaks down NAPDH called NADPH oxidase (NOX) turns on in the presence of oxidative stress, inhibiting the job of NADPH. H2 will mitigate activation of NOX when it might otherwise be overstimulated, at the same time that it converts NAD+ into NADPH, making it beneficial on both sides of the equation.
H2 also stimulates the Nrf2 pathway, which regulates the body’s overall responses to oxidative stress and subsequent inflammation. This pathway increases NADPH production, glutathione production, and autophagy, among many others.
H2 selectively scavenges many powerful free radicals produced inside the body in response to oxidative stressors, including OH- and ONOO-, which are associated DNA damage. These free radicals can also oxidize lipids, triggering cardiovascular stress and can inactivate proteins as well—so H2 protects against this too.
At the same time, some reactive oxygen species serve a physiologic purpose in the body, and H2 leaves these alone.
In other words, H2 acts as a smart antioxidant, creating homeostasis between free radicals and antioxidants, rather than quenching them all indiscriminately.
Molecular Hydrogen (H2) Regulates Inflammatory Responses
Oxidative stress causes tissue damage, while inflammation is the result. Because of this, regulated oxidative stress would be expected to decrease a hyperactive inflammatory response — and indeed it does.
H2 has been consistently shown to decrease inflammatory cytokine release, in many studies.
This study of parasite-induced liver inflammation showed that breathing high pressure H2 gas could reverse it, while this Hepatitis B study showed that oxidative stress and inflammation led to improved liver function as well.
Molecular Hydrogen (H2) Studies for Wound Healing and Tissue Damage
We would expect that with less oxidative stress and inflammation, the body would be less susceptible to tissue damage, which is also the case.
This mouse study showed that H2 mitigated nicotine-related testicular injury, while this rat study showed that H2 water (see delivery methods below) decreased the injury to the stomach lining otherwise induced by aspirin. This rat study shows that damage due to ischemia/reperfusion (where the tissue didn’t get enough oxygen for a period of time and then got too much all at once thereafter) was mitigated due to H2 as well.
Molecular hydrogen also helps with tissue repair after the injury has occurred, regardless of the part of the body in question. This study shows that it is effective in healing a wound of the oral palate.
This study shows that it helps to heal damage to the gastric mucosa due to stress, while this study shows it can heal gastric damage due to aspirin (it appears the initial trigger doesn’t matter.)
This study shows that it can help heal testicular injury due to radiation (though again, we can probably assume that the cause of injury is less important, provided the obstacle to cure is gone).
Several studies showed that various delivery methods of H2 can benefit retinal damage. This study showed that retinal ischemia/reperfusion injury that has already occurred can benefit from H2-loaded eye drops. This study showed that the trigger for injury didn’t matter, H2 was still beneficial, in various methods of delivery. This study showed that even if the optic nerve is crushed, H2 can be beneficial for healing.
Molecular Hydrogen Studies for Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s Disease
Because Molecular Hydrogen can cross the BBB, it’s been studied for various neurological diseases, especially Parkinson’s Disease.
Parkinson’s Disease is heavily associated with exposure to environmental toxins.
The study mentioned in this article suggests that the mechanism behind the effectiveness of molecular hydrogen in treating Parkinson’s disease is related to the degradation of melanin levels. Melanin can trigger the production of H2 from water, indicating that low H2 levels in the body may contribute to the development of Parkinson’s.
In an animal study, even low concentrations of H2 water (as low as 5%) were found to decrease symptoms of Parkinson’s. Another study on mice showed that concentrations as low as 0.08 ppm were as effective as higher doses in reducing the loss of dopaminergic neurons. A clinical trial on humans yielded similar results.
Additionally, research has shown that H2 can reduce oxidative stress and inflammation, leading to improvements in cognition and memory in Alzheimer’s patients.
Studies have also demonstrated the benefits of molecular hydrogen in metabolic syndrome. Long-term intake of hydrogen water resulted in lower weight, body fat, blood sugar, insulin, and triglyceride levels. It was also found to regulate blood sugar levels similarly to insulin.
In the context of cancer, H2 has been shown to alleviate some of the side effects of chemotherapy and inhibit the growth of cancer cells. Cancer cells produce more reactive oxygen species than normal cells, contributing to cancer growth and progression.
Various delivery methods for molecular hydrogen have been discussed, including breathing pressurized H2 gas, intravenous delivery, and intraperitoneal delivery. However, hydrogen water is considered a more convenient and safer option for everyday use, despite challenges with dose control and absorption.
To incorporate molecular hydrogen into your routine, you can purchase H2 tablets to dissolve in water or use machines that produce hydrogen water from filtered water. The recommended dose is typically 1-2 tablets per day. Can you please rewrite this sentence for me?
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