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Review
. 2025 Jan 25:41:101933.
doi: 10.1016/j.bbrep.2025.101933. eCollection 2025 Mar.

A comprehensive review of molecular hydrogen as a novel nutrition therapy in relieving oxidative stress and diseases: Mechanisms and perspectives

Affiliations
Review

A comprehensive review of molecular hydrogen as a novel nutrition therapy in relieving oxidative stress and diseases: Mechanisms and perspectives

Fatmanur Yıldız et al. Biochem Biophys Rep. .

Abstract

Oxidative stress is responsible for the pathogenesis of many diseases, and antioxidants are commonly included in their treatment protocols. Over the past two decades, numerous biomedical reports have revealed the therapeutic benefits of molecular hydrogen (H2) in relieving oxidation-related diseases. H2 has been found to have selective antioxidant properties against the most dangerous oxidants (hydroxyl radicals and peroxynitrite). H2 demonstrates numerous biologically therapeutic properties, including anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anti-cancer, anti-stress, anti-apoptotic, anti-allergic effects, signaling molecule functions, regulation of redox balance, modulation of antioxidant enzyme gene expression, improvement of blood vessel function, down-regulation of pro-inflammatory cytokines, stimulation of energy metabolism, and protection of the nervous system. Experimental and clinical studies have shown the potential use of hydrogen nutrition therapy for ameliorating various diseases, including cardiovascular, respiratory, and metabolic disorders, as well as obesity, gastrointestinal disorders, and brain and nervous system disorders. The administration methods of hydrogen include inhalation, hydrogen-rich water, hydrogen-rich saline, hydrogen-rich eye drops, and hydrogen-rich bathing. Hydrogen nutritional therapy can be applied to different diseases, and it offers a natural alternative to chemical and radiation therapies. This review covers the different administration methods and the latest experimental and clinical research on the potential applications of H2 in nutritional therapy for different diseases.

Keywords: Diseases; Free radicals; Molecular hydrogen; Nutritional therapy; Oxidative stress.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.

Figures

Image 1
Graphical abstract
Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Properties of molecular hydrogen.
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Hydrogen administration methods.
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Diseases for which hydrogen nutritional therapy is applicable.
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
The effect of hydrogen nutrition therapy on cardiovascular disease.
Fig. 5
Fig. 5
Effects of hydrogen nutrition therapy on obesity and metabolic diseases.

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