autophagy

32 papers

Research evidence summary

Q: Does molecular hydrogen help with autophagy?

A: Of 32 peer-reviewed papers, 19 reported a positive effect (the most common), 0 limited/mixed, 0 negative, 13 not assessed. Study mix: 1 human (1 RCT), 16 animal/basic, 13 meta-analysis or synthesis. The most studied delivery route is mixed routes. The above aggregates published research and does not constitute a clinically established conclusion. See the individual paper pages for details and Safety notes for inhalation safety. (last updated 2026-05-15)

Evidence breakdown
Human	1	of which RCT	1
Animal/basic	16	Synthesis/meta	13
Reported effect	positive 19 ・ limited/mixed 0 ・ negative 0 ・ not assessed 13

Read the safety notes →

Delivery-method distribution

mixed routes: 8 not specified: 6 inhalation: 6 in vitro: 5 hydrogen-rich water: 5 injection / infusion: 1 animal model: 1

Hydrogen gas inhalation alleviated cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury by regulating mitophagy in SH-SY5Y cells and mice via PTEN-induced kinase 1/Parkin pathway.
2026 ・ J Stroke Cerebrovasc Dis ・ PMID 42049119

inhalation positive animal study
Electrolyzed Hydrogen Water Improves Chemosensitivity to Anticancer Drugs by Potently Suppressing Autophagy.
2026 ・ J Cell Mol Med ・ PMID 41702867

in vitro positive in vitro study
Therapeutic potential of magnesium diboride nanosheets in PAH-associated right heart failure: Integrated multi-omics analysis reveals ferroptosis suppression via LC3/ATG5/NCOA4/FTH1 pathway.
2026 ・ Free Radic Biol Med ・ PMID 41308938

in vitro positive animal study
Hydrogen-rich water alleviates neuropathic pain through the modulation of bile acid/Takeda G-protein-coupled receptor 5-mediated autophagy.
2026 ・ Pain ・ PMID 41143867

hydrogen-rich water positive animal study
Molecular hydrogen-mediated SIRT1 activation alleviates sepsis-associated encephalopathy by promoting mitophagy.
2025 ・ Eur J Med Res ・ PMID 41351127

inhalation positive animal study
Hydrogen promoted mitochondrial autophagy and alleviated CIH-induced vascular endothelial cell senescence by regulating oxidative stress.
2025 ・ Eur J Pharmacol ・ PMID 40845957

animal model positive animal study
Molecular hydrogen protects against sepsis-induced cardiomyopathy through improving Golgi stress-mediated autophagy, inflammation and apoptosis.
2025 ・ Br J Pharmacol ・ PMID 40717465

inhalation positive animal study
Hydrogen restores central tryptophan and metabolite levels and maintains mitochondrial homeostasis to protect rats from chronic mild unpredictable stress damage.
2025 ・ Neurochem Int ・ PMID 39653185

inhalation positive animal study
Hydrogen alleviates hypoxic-ischaemic brain damage in neonatal rats by inhibiting injury of brain pericytes.
2024 ・ J Cell Mol Med ・ PMID 39001579

hydrogen-rich water positive animal study
The role of hydrogen in the prevention and treatment of coronary atherosclerotic heart disease.
2024 ・ Eur J Pharmacol ・ PMID 38615891

not specified not assessed review
Molecular hydrogen attenuates sepsis-induced cardiomyopathy in mice by promoting autophagy.
2024 ・ BMC Anesthesiol ・ PMID 38395800

inhalation positive animal study
Therapeutic Potential of Hydrogen-Rich Water on Muscle Atrophy Caused by Immobilization in a Mouse Model.
2023 ・ Pharmaceuticals (Basel) ・ PMID 37895907

hydrogen-rich water positive animal study
Hydrogen Therapy and Its Future Prospects for Ameliorating COVID-19: Clinical Applications, Efficacy, and Modality.
2023 ・ Biomedicines ・ PMID 37509530

mixed routes not assessed review
[Hydrogen-rich water reduces cell damage by reducing excessive autophagy in mouse neuronal cells after oxygen glucose deprivation/reoxygenation].
2023 ・ Zhonghua Wei Zhong Bing Ji Jiu Yi Xue ・ PMID 37366131

in vitro positive in vitro study
Therapeutic Potential of Molecular Hydrogen in Metabolic Diseases from Bench to Bedside.
2023 ・ Pharmaceuticals (Basel) ・ PMID 37111299

mixed routes not assessed review
Hydrogen-rich water treatment increased several phytohormones and prolonged the shelf life in postharvest okras.
2023 ・ Front Plant Sci ・ PMID 36866361

hydrogen-rich water positive other
Molecular Hydrogen Promotes Adipose-derived Stem Cell Myogenic DifferentiationRegulation of Mitochondria.
2023 ・ Curr Stem Cell Res Ther ・ PMID 36165523

in vitro positive in vitro study
A randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial of hydrogen/oxygen inhalation for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.
2022 ・ J Cell Mol Med ・ PMID 35734974

mixed routes positive human randomized controlled trial
Role of Molecular Hydrogen in Ageing and Ageing-Related Diseases.
2022 ・ Oxid Med Cell Longev ・ PMID 35340218

mixed routes not assessed review
Molecular hydrogen is a potential protective agent in the management of acute lung injury.
2022 ・ Mol Med ・ PMID 35240982

mixed routes not assessed review
Molecular hydrogen is a promising therapeutic agent for pulmonary disease.
2022 ・ J Zhejiang Univ Sci B ・ PMID 35187885

mixed routes not assessed review
Hydrogen-rich water promotes the formation of bulblets in Lilium davidii var. unicolor through regulating sucrose and starch metabolism.
2021 ・ Planta ・ PMID 34689230

in vitro positive other
Hydrogen alleviates acute lung injury induced by limb ischaemia/reperfusion in mice.
2021 ・ Life Sci ・ PMID 34052293

injection / infusion positive animal study
Recent advances in studies of molecular hydrogen in the treatment of pancreatitis.
2021 ・ Life Sci ・ PMID 33148420

not specified not assessed review
Oxidative Stress and Pathways of Molecular Hydrogen Effects in Medicine.
2021 ・ Curr Pharm Des ・ PMID 32954996

not specified not assessed review