Therapeutic molecular hydrogen offers numerous potential health benefits. But do you know how molecular hydrogen benefits your heart and brain?
High levels of reactive oxygen species and oxidative stress contribute to the development of cardiovascular and central nervous system diseases. Molecular hydrogen therapy reduces reactive oxygen species production and oxidative stress, thus reducing the risk of such diseases.
Ongoing research into the therapeutic effects of molecular hydrogen has shown hydrogen offers potentially powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. This has led to more intensified studies into how molecular hydrogen benefits your heart and brain health.
What Is Molecular Hydrogen?
Much of the information in this article on how molecular hydrogen benefits your heart and brain is based on the findings of an eye-opening scientific review titled Molecular and Cellular Mechanisms Associated with Effects of Molecular Hydrogen in Cardiovascular and Central Nervous Systems.
But before we get into the details of this scientific study, let’s have a closer look at what molecular hydrogen is.
Regular water (H2O) is made up of two hydrogen atoms (H2) and one oxygen atom (O). If you were to add extra hydrogen molecules to it, you’d have hydrogenated, or hydrogen-rich, water. Even the air that we breathe contains trace amounts of hydrogen.
Therefore, hydrogen is safe to ingest. We do it anyway, whenever we take a breath or have a drink of water.
Molecular hydrogen is the primary form in which hydrogen is found — two hydrogen atoms (H2) bonded to form what is known as diatomic hydrogen ( “di” means two). This creates a molecule, ergo, molecular hydrogen!
A Powerful Antioxidant and Anti-Inflammatory Agent
Now that we’ve covered what hydrogen is, let’s get to the crux of the matter.
Molecular hydrogen offers countless potential benefits. It may reduce inflammation and combat oxidative stress. It has been shown to improve potential metabolic syndrome, stimulate energy metabolism, and influence hepatic lipid and glucose metabolism.
However, because levels of cardiovascular and neurological conditions are high worldwide, attention is being given to the potential benefits of molecular hydrogen for heart and brain health. Studies into these health effects of hydrogen have produced some interesting findings.
Scientific Study Into the Effects of Molecular Hydrogen
A recent scientific review into how molecular hydrogen benefits your heart and brain has shown how mighty the little hydrogen molecule is.
The review focuses on the molecular and cellular mechanisms associated with molecular hydrogen effects on cardiovascular and central nervous systems. It summarizes knowledge about redox and intracellular signaling regulation, gene expression alterations, and the modulation of cellular responses.
Don’t be discouraged by the scientific jargon. We’ll break it down so everyone can easily understand what molecular hydrogen does for brain and heart health. Most of the benefits of molecular hydrogen on heart and brain health are attributed to its effect on two things — oxidative stress, and inflammation.
Oxidative Stress
Molecular hydrogen significantly reduces oxidative stress. But, what is oxidative stress? To answer this question we must discuss something called free radicals, the unstable molecules that are a common byproduct of cell metabolism.
Free radicals can pair with healthy body cells and tissues and damage them. They are usually kept in check by antioxidants, molecules that pair with free radicals before they can harm healthy cells. However, various environmental and lifestyle factors increase free radicals and impair our ability to fight them.
When there is an imbalance between the production of these free radicals and antioxidants, the body cannot neutralize the free radicals. This is when oxidative stress occurs.
Inflammation
Molecular hydrogen has an anti-inflammatory effect. But what inflammation?
Inflammation is the body’s natural response to infection, injury, toxins, or germs. It is an important process that allows the body to heal. But sometimes, the body continues sending inflammatory cells, even when there’s no danger.
This leads to chronic inflammation that, when left unchecked, can cause great harm.
Molecular Hydrogen’s Heart Health Benefits
First, in our examination of how molecular hydrogen benefits your heart and brain, let’s look at the heart health benefits.
Cardiac arrest is a leading cause of death in the U.S. and the world. There are many ways to treat heart problems, but they are not always effective and sometimes have adverse effects of their own. People at high risk for cardiac issues often look to alternatives like hydrogen therapy to improve their heart health.
The positive effects of molecular hydrogen on cardiovascular diseases have been reported in several studies. According to the review, hydrogen inhalation significantly improved cardiac function in a rat model of cardiac arrest.
Targets Oxidative Stress and Inflammation to Improve Cardiac Health
Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are a subset of free radicals that contain oxygen. ROS can be either beneficial or harmful. Hydrogen peroxide is an example of one that can be beneficial. At proper levels, ROS plays a crucial role in the immune system, cellular signaling, and gene expression regulation.
However, excess ROS can cause oxidative stress. Oxidative stress can lead to cell and tissue damage, contributing to various diseases including cardiovascular diseases. Indeed, according to the review, increased ROS and oxidative stress are crucial factors in the development of cardiovascular diseases.
Furthermore, oxidative stress and inflammation are mechanisms linking conditions like hypertension and cardiovascular disease to the breakdown of the blood-brain barrier. By targeting oxidative stress and inflammation molecular hydrogen therapy may offer significantly improved cardiac function.
The review has this to say: “The antioxidative, anti-inflammatory, and antiapoptotic properties of molecular hydrogen may explain why its clinical application may result in the improvement of oxidative stress-related cardiovascular diseases”.
By reducing oxidative stress, it may play a role in preventive heart health. Molecular hydrogen water may also reduce oxidative stress in white adipose tissue and lead to a metabolic shift in body fat distribution. This is beneficial in obesity-related cardiovascular issues.
Reduces Left Ventricular Adverse Modeling
Myocardial reperfusion restores the coronary blood flow after a period of occlusion (blockage). Unfortunately, it can cause a myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury. This is tissue damage caused when the blood supply returns to it after hypoxia (low oxygen).
Left ventricular adverse remodeling is a common maladaptive process caused by cardiac injury. And adverse left ventricular remodeling itself often causes heart failure. Fortunately, molecular hydrogen may be able to reduce this risk.
The review mentions that hydrogen’s protective effects had an “ability to attenuate left ventricular remodeling induced by intermittent hypoxia or ischemia/reperfusion injury”. It is also noted that in spontaneous hypertensive rats, hydrogen-rich saline reduced left ventricular hypertrophy development.
Molecular Hydrogen’s Brain Health Benefits
Oxidative stress isn’t just bad news for heart health. Along with inflammation, it has been implicated in the progression of neurodegenerative diseases. Fortunately, molecular hydrogen may reduce or prevent oxidative stress and inflammation.
It easily penetrates biological membranes. According to the review, this is very important in the central nervous system (CNS), where it can penetrate the blood-brain barrier. Therefore, molecular hydrogen treatment may offer the following brain health benefits.
Reduces Oxidative Stress
The brain is highly susceptible to oxidative stress. And oxidative stress-induced damage may negatively impact normal central nervous system functioning.
The review reports that molecular hydrogen gas acts as a therapeutic and preventive antioxidant, and could suppress injury in the brain. So, can molecular hydrogen fix all brain function problems? No. However, through its antioxidant action, it may mitigate the risk of central nervous system problems.
Targets Inflammation
When your body activates your immune system, it sends out pro-inflammatory cytokines. These cells coordinate immune system response, triggering or heightening inflammation. However, an excessive immune response, with chronic inflammation, can cause tissue damage.
Anti-inflammatory cytokines come to the rescue, preventing an excessive immune response. In doing so, they reduce or stop chronic inflammation. However, a disturbance in the levels of pro vs. anti-inflammatory cytokines can worsen chronic inflammation.
What does this have to do with your brain? Plenty! Chronic inflammation does not only affect your heart health. It can also put your brain at risk and lead to cognitive decline. Research suggests that molecular hydrogen may reduce pro-inflammatory cytokines, to address this problem of chronic inflammation.
Suppresses Cerebral Edema
Cerebral edema (brain swelling) is an abnormal accumulation of fluid in the brain tissue which in turn increases pressure on the brain. It can be caused by inflammation, infection, brain injury, or certain types of stroke.
Hydrogen-rich saline reduced the extent of brain edema in neonatal brain injuries in mice. The review highlights that the “observed effects of hydrogen were associated with the suppression of brain edema and neurological deficits”.
Mechanisms of Action
Research into how molecular hydrogen benefits your heart and brain identifies these primary mechanisms of action.
Influence on Redox Signaling
Redox signaling molecules play an important role in the cardiovascular system. Redox signaling regulates several physiological processes in the heart. It also regulates adaptation to apoxia/ischemia and adverse cardiac remodeling.
This often involves a small increase in ROS levels, activating signaling pathways to initiate biological processes. However, high ROS levels can result in oxidative stress, a big problem for both heart and brain health.
Molecular hydrogen’s antioxidative response may regulate redox signaling pathways by stemming the tide of excess ROS levels. It’s not only good news for cardiovascular and brain health. Hydrogen’s influence on redox-mediated enzymes and cellular signals may also promote longevity.
Role in Gene Expression and Cellular Responses
Gene expression is the process our cells use to convert DNA instructions into functional gene products. And when that gene expression is interrupted in some way, it can lead to severe medical consequences.
There are natural processes that rid the body of damaged or dysfunctional cells (or parts of cells). Apoptosis, a system of programmed cell death, gets rid of old or damaged cells. And autophagy can recycle damaged structural parts of cells.
Some studies have shown that oxidative stress can interfere with gene expression. Therefore, acute oxidative stress may interfere with these natural processes, or trigger them prematurely.
According to the review, hydrogen helps regulate gene expression. It seemed to increase anti-apoptotic factors, and/or decrease or suppress pro-apoptotic factors. Therefore, hydrogen therapy may counteract oxidative stress’s negative effects on gene expression and cellular responses.
The authors of the scientific review stated that it is not clear whether this is the “cause or consequence” of the effects of hydrogen against oxidative stress.
That aside, it seems clear that hydrogen therapy may offer antioxidant effects. To support this, we quote from the review:
“An important factor in modulating responses to oxidative stress, and a major mechanism underlying the cellular protective effects of hydrogen, is the upregulation of the expression of genes that encode several antioxidant enzymes”.
Practical Applications
How does the study of molecular hydrogen’s benefits for the heart and brain translate into practical applications?
Methods of Hydrogen Administration
There are two possible methods of administration of hydrogen. One is the inhalation of hydrogen gas, and the other is drinking hydrogenated water.
Hydrogen Gas Inhalation
Therapeutic gas inhalation refers to the inhalation or breathing in, of a therapeutic medical gas. So, molecular hydrogen inhalation therapy is the intentional breathing of molecular hydrogen gas. This is made possible with a hydrogen inhaler machine such as our Clinical Hydrogen Inhaler.
Drinking Hydrogen Rich Water
Drinking hydrogen-rich water involves drinking water that has been infused with extra hydrogen molecules.
This is typically made possible in two ways. A machine can add hydrogen to water through electrolysis, like our Zen Flow Hydrogen Water Machine. Alternatively, hydrogen tablets like our Molecular Hydrogen Tablets can raise the hydrogen levels in ordinary water.
This is not the same as hydrogen-rich saline, which is a saline (salt water) collusion infused with hydrogen. Hydrogen saline is used externally, and its topical use may promote wound healing.
Clinical Trial Findings and Conclusions About Molecular Hydrogen
The scientific review concludes that molecular hydrogen’s therapeutic potential may be attributed to several molecular mechanisms. Its cellular protective effects are thanks to its effects on cellular antioxidant defenses and redox signaling.
This conclusion is based on numerous existing clinical trial findings.
However, it is also noted that the effects of hydrogen on signaling pathways and adaptive cellular responses may be both stimulatory and inhibitory. Therefore, further studies are recommended to better understand molecular hydrogen’s regulatory functions.
Conclusion
Research into how molecular hydrogen benefits your heart and brain has provided us with valuable insights into the effects of hydrogen on the body.
Studies have shown that inhaling hydrogen gas and drinking hydrogen water can curb reactive oxygen species production, oxidative stress, and inflammation. But how can you benefit from molecular hydrogen’s antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effect?
Vital Reaction offers hydrogen therapy solutions for use at home and on the go! Our range of hydrogen inhalation machines and hydrogen water bottles bring molecular hydrogen benefits for heart and brain health, to everyone. Need more information? Contact us with any questions you have.
