Nrf2 pathway

106 papers

Research evidence summary

Q: Does molecular hydrogen help with Nrf2 pathway?

A: Of 106 peer-reviewed papers, 78 reported a positive effect (the most common), 3 limited/mixed, 2 negative, 23 not assessed. Study mix: 3 human (2 RCT), 73 animal/basic, 25 meta-analysis or synthesis. The most studied delivery route is hydrogen-rich water. 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	3	of which RCT	2
Animal/basic	73	Synthesis/meta	25
Reported effect	positive 78 ・ limited/mixed 3 ・ negative 2 ・ not assessed 23

Read the safety notes →

Delivery-method distribution

hydrogen-rich water: 32 mixed routes: 21 inhalation: 21 in vitro: 14 not specified: 8 injection / infusion: 7 animal model: 2 topical application: 1

Mitochondrial dysfunction, neuroinflammation, and associated mechanisms in sepsis-associated encephalopathy: from pathogenesis to emerging therapeutics.
2026 ・ Front Neurosci ・ PMID 42057900

not specified not assessed review
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
Molecular Hydrogen Reverses Nociplastic Pain and Depressive-like Behaviors via Region- and Sex-Dependent Central Mechanisms.
2026 ・ Int J Mol Sci ・ PMID 41977237

hydrogen-rich water positive animal study
Neuroprotective Effects of Molecular Hydrogen via Oxidative Stress and Neuroinflammation Regulation in a 5xFAD Mouse Model.
2026 ・ Antioxidants (Basel) ・ PMID 41897548

inhalation positive animal study
Comparison of hydrogen administration methods in the treatment of radiation-induced heart disease in rats.
2026 ・ Can J Physiol Pharmacol ・ PMID 41806364

mixed routes positive animal study
Transcriptome-Based Evaluation of Hydrogen Gas Effects for Preventing UVA-Induced Photoaging Using an Artificial Skin Model.
2026 ・ Geriatr Gerontol Int ・ PMID 41749059

in vitro positive in vitro study
Molecular Hydrogen Attenuates Chronic Inflammation and Delays the Onset of Ultraviolet B-Induced Skin Carcinogenesis in Mice.
2026 ・ Int J Mol Sci ・ PMID 41596287

mixed routes positive animal study
Medical Gases as Emerging Regulators of Paediatric Endocrine and Neurodevelopmental Pathways: A Mini-Review.
2026 ・ Acta Paediatr ・ PMID 41482991

not specified not assessed review
Osteoimmunometabolic modulation via hydrogen-self-supplying magnesium-reinforced collagen membrane for enhanced guided bone regeneration.
2026 ・ Biomaterials ・ PMID 41435455

in vitro positive animal study
Hydrogen gas promotes neuroprotection and upregulates ATF5 expression in neonatal hypoxic-ischemic brain injury.
2026 ・ Exp Neurol ・ PMID 41386344

inhalation positive animal study
Hydrogen intervention attenuates chronic hypoxia-induced bone degeneration and multi-organ damage via modulation of the gut microbiota.
2026 ・ Bone ・ PMID 41224067

hydrogen-rich water positive animal study
Mechanism by which hydrogen-rich water mitigates exercise-induced fatigue: activation of the immunoresponsive gene 1-itaconate/nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2/heme oxygenase-1 pathway.
2026 ・ Med Gas Res ・ PMID 40580185

hydrogen-rich water positive animal study
Molecular Hydrogen Affords Similar Neuroprotection to Therapeutic Hypothermia in a Porcine Model of Neonatal Hypoxic-Ischemic Encephalopathy.
2025 ・ Antioxidants (Basel) ・ PMID 41462605

inhalation positive animal study
Synergistic alleviation effects of salt-tolerant plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria and hydrogen-rich water on salt stress in.
2025 ・ Front Plant Sci ・ PMID 41234312

hydrogen-rich water positive other
Gut microbiota as a central mediator in hydrogen gas-induced alleviation of colitis via TLR4/NF-κB and Nrf2 pathway regulation.
2025 ・ Int Immunopharmacol ・ PMID 41076929

inhalation positive animal study
Nanobiocatalyst-Driven Spatiotemporal Hydrogen Delivery Induces Dormancy Potentiated Catalytic Tumor Therapy.
2025 ・ ACS Nano ・ PMID 40931918

in vitro positive in vitro study
Preventing Cisplatin-Induced Neuropathy and Related Emotional Disorders with the Coadministration of Duloxetine and Hydrogen-Rich Water in Male and Female Mice.
2025 ・ Antioxidants (Basel) ・ PMID 40867900

mixed routes positive animal study
Long-Term Neuroprotective Effects of Hydrogen-Rich Water and Memantine in Chronic Radiation-Induced Brain Injury: Behavioral, Histological, and Molecular Insights.
2025 ・ Antioxidants (Basel) ・ PMID 40867844

hydrogen-rich water 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
Acid-triggered ultralong hydrogen release from AB-loaded hollow mesoporous silica nanoparticles enhances salt tolerance in sweetpotato.
2025 ・ J Biotechnol ・ PMID 40651661

in vitro positive other
Redox reactions in chronic pain: mechanisms and relevance in fibromyalgia.
2025 ・ Front Pain Res (Lausanne) ・ PMID 40432823

not specified not assessed review
Role and mechanism of molecular hydrogen in the treatment of Parkinson's diseases.
2025 ・ Front Neurosci ・ PMID 40336538

mixed routes mixed review
Advanced Glycation End Products and Skin Autoimmune Disorders: Pathogenic Insights into Vitiligo, Bullous Pemphigoid, and Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus.
2025 ・ Curr Med Chem ・ PMID 40289982

hydrogen-rich water not assessed review
The effect of Hydrogen-rich water on retinal degeneration in the outer nuclear layer of simulated weightlessness rats.
2025 ・ Life Sci Space Res (Amst) ・ PMID 40280637

hydrogen-rich water positive animal study
Progress in the Application of Molecular Hydrogen in Medical Skin Cosmetology.
2025 ・ Clin Cosmet Investig Dermatol ・ PMID 40061044

mixed routes not assessed review