COPD / asthma

15 papers

Research evidence summary

Q: Does molecular hydrogen help with COPD / asthma?

A: Of 15 peer-reviewed papers, 13 reported a positive effect (the most common), 0 limited/mixed, 0 negative, 2 not assessed. Study mix: 5 human (1 RCT), 8 animal/basic, 2 meta-analysis or synthesis. The most studied delivery route is inhalation. 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	5	of which RCT	1
Animal/basic	8	Synthesis/meta	2
Reported effect	positive 13 ・ limited/mixed 0 ・ negative 0 ・ not assessed 2

Read the safety notes →

Delivery-method distribution

inhalation: 6 mixed routes: 5 hydrogen-rich water: 3 in vitro: 1

Molecular Hydrogen as an Adjuvant Therapy in Comorbid Sjögren's Syndrome, SLE, and ILD: A Case Report on Immune Modulation and Fatigue Reduction.
2025 ・ In Vivo ・ PMID 40579023

mixed routes positive human case report
Molecular Hydrogen in the Treatment of Respiratory Diseases.
2025 ・ Int J Mol Sci ・ PMID 40362357

mixed routes not assessed review
[Efficiency and safety of the integrated use of medical gases thermal heliox, nitric oxide and molecular hydrogen in patients with exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease complicated by hypoxemic, hypercapnic respiratory failure and secondary pulmonary arterial hypertension in the post-COVID period].
2025 ・ Ter Arkh ・ PMID 40327618

inhalation positive human randomized controlled trial
Coral calcium hydride promotes peripheral mitochondrial division and reduces AT-II cells damage in ARDS via activation of the Trx2/Myo19/Drp1 pathway.
2025 ・ J Pharm Anal ・ PMID 40177064

mixed routes positive animal study
Hydrogen Gas Inhalation Alleviates Airway Inflammation and Oxidative Stress on Ovalbumin-Induced Asthmatic BALB/c Mouse Model.
2024 ・ Antioxidants (Basel) ・ PMID 39594470

inhalation positive animal study
Hydrogen-rich water alleviates asthma airway inflammation by modulating tryptophan metabolism and activating aryl hydrocarbon receptor via gut microbiota regulation.
2024 ・ Free Radic Biol Med ・ PMID 39147072

hydrogen-rich water positive animal study
Molecular Hydrogen as a Promising Therapy Could Be Linked With Increased Resting Treg Cells or Decreased Fas+ T Cell Subsets in a IgG4-PF-ILD Patient: A Case Report.
2024 ・ In Vivo ・ PMID 38688598

inhalation positive human case report
Can Hydrogen Water Enhance Oxygen Saturation in Patients with Chronic Lung Disease? A Non-Randomized, Observational Pilot Study.
2023 ・ Diseases ・ PMID 37873771

hydrogen-rich water positive human observational study
The effects of hydrogen treatment in a cigarette smoke solution-induced chronic obstructive pulmonary disease-like changes in an animal model.
2022 ・ J Thorac Dis ・ PMID 36524091

inhalation positive animal study
Molecular hydrogen is a promising therapeutic agent for pulmonary disease.
2022 ・ J Zhejiang Univ Sci B ・ PMID 35187885

mixed routes not assessed review
The effects of inhaling hydrogen gas on macrophage polarization, fibrosis, and lung function in mice with bleomycin-induced lung injury.
2021 ・ BMC Pulm Med ・ PMID 34719405

inhalation positive animal study
Molecular hydrogen alleviates asthma through inhibiting IL-33/ILC2 axis.
2021 ・ Inflamm Res ・ PMID 33852061

inhalation positive animal study
Hydrogen Attenuates Allergic Inflammation by Reversing Energy Metabolic Pathway Switch.
2020 ・ Sci Rep ・ PMID 32029879

mixed routes positive human observational study
Quantitative proteomics reveals the mechanisms of hydrogen-conferred protection against hyperoxia-induced injury in type II alveolar epithelial cells.
2018 ・ Exp Lung Res ・ PMID 30973277

in vitro positive in vitro study
Hydrogen-rich pure water prevents cigarette smoke-induced pulmonary emphysema in SMP30 knockout mice.
2017 ・ Biochem Biophys Res Commun ・ PMID 28807355

hydrogen-rich water positive animal study