wound healing

35 papers

Research evidence summary

Q: Does molecular hydrogen help with wound healing?

A: Of 35 peer-reviewed papers, 28 reported a positive effect (the most common), 2 limited/mixed, 1 negative, 4 not assessed. Study mix: 5 human (2 RCT), 26 animal/basic, 3 meta-analysis or synthesis. The most studied delivery route is topical application. 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	2
Animal/basic	26	Synthesis/meta	3
Reported effect	positive 28 ・ limited/mixed 2 ・ negative 1 ・ not assessed 4

Read the safety notes →

Delivery-method distribution

topical application: 14 in vitro: 8 inhalation: 4 hydrogen-rich water: 4 mixed routes: 2 hydrogen bath: 2 not specified: 1

Molecular hydrogen triggers TRPC4-TRPC4AP-dependent reversible calcium transients via extracellular influx.
2026 ・ Theranostics ・ PMID 41799190

inhalation positive in vitro study
Exploratory Evaluation of Hydrogen-Rich Water Therapy for Keloid Management: A Double-Blinded Randomized Pilot Trial.
2026 ・ Aesthetic Plast Surg ・ PMID 41545661

hydrogen-rich water positive human randomized controlled trial
Sequential hydrogen-release implant for promoting the soft tissue integration through immunomodulatory and pro-remodeling coupling.
2026 ・ Bioact Mater ・ PMID 41334374

in vitro positive in vitro study
Postharvest preservation of chestnuts: Combined application of hydrogen-rich water and a carboxymethyl chitosan/sodium alginate composite coating.
2026 ・ Int J Biol Macromol ・ PMID 41314584

hydrogen-rich water positive other
Topically Applied Molecular Hydrogen Normalizes Skin Parameters Associated with Oxidative Stress: A Pilot Study.
2025 ・ Antioxidants (Basel) ・ PMID 40563361

topical application positive human case report
Coaxial Fibrous Dressing Enabling Sequential NO/HRelease for Temporally Programmed Antibacterial and Healing-Promoting Functions in Infected Diabetic Wound Treatment.
2025 ・ ACS Appl Mater Interfaces ・ PMID 40504663

topical application positive animal study
Local Visible-Photocatalytic Production of Hydrogen and Warm Heat for Combination Treatment of Pressure Ulcer.
2025 ・ Adv Sci (Weinh) ・ PMID 40491331

topical application positive animal study
Synergistic Antioxidant Effects of Molecular Hydrogen and Cold Atmospheric Plasma in Enhancing Mesenchymal Stem Cell Therapy.
2024 ・ Antioxidants (Basel) ・ PMID 39765910

mixed routes not assessed review
Hydrogen-releasing magnesium hydrogel mitigates post laminectomy epidural fibrosis through inhibition of neutrophil extracellular traps.
2024 ・ Acta Biomater ・ PMID 39260811

in vitro positive animal study
Light-Operated Transient Unilateral Adhesive Hydrogel for Comprehensive Prevention of Postoperative Adhesions.
2024 ・ Adv Sci (Weinh) ・ PMID 38924679

in vitro positive animal study
Combined use of hydrogen-rich water and enzyme-digested edible bird's nest improves PMA/LPS-impaired wound healing in human inflammatory gingival tissue equivalents.
2024 ・ Hum Cell ・ PMID 38679666

in vitro positive in vitro study
Solid-state atomic hydrogen as a broad-spectrum RONS scavenger for accelerated diabetic wound healing.
2024 ・ Natl Sci Rev ・ PMID 38213516

topical application positive animal study
Hydrogen Attenuates Inflammation by Inducing Early M2 Macrophage Polarization in Skin Wound Healing.
2023 ・ Pharmaceuticals (Basel) ・ PMID 37375833

inhalation positive animal study
Mast Cells in Regeneration of the Skin in Burn Wound with Special Emphasis on Molecular Hydrogen Effect.
2023 ・ Pharmaceuticals (Basel) ・ PMID 36986447

mixed routes positive animal study
Alginate-Based Biomaterials in Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine.
2023 ・ Mar Drugs ・ PMID 36976238

not specified not assessed review
Molecular hydrogen promotes wound healing by inducing early epidermal stem cell proliferation and extracellular matrix deposition.
2023 ・ Inflamm Regen ・ PMID 36973725

inhalation positive animal study
Two-Dimensional MgSi Nanosheet-Enabled Sustained Hydrogen Generation for Improved Repair and Regeneration of Deeply Burned Skin.
2023 ・ Adv Healthc Mater ・ PMID 36546774

topical application positive in vitro study
Hydrogen-producing Photocatalyst at Sunscreen for Athletes in Preventing and Healing Muscle-nerve-skin Injuries.
2023 ・ Curr Top Med Chem ・ PMID 36529921

topical application not assessed review
Photocatalytic glucose depletion and hydrogen generation for diabetic wound healing.
2022 ・ Nat Commun ・ PMID 36167814

topical application positive animal study
Prophylactic Instillation of Hydrogen-Rich Water Decreases Corneal Inflammation and Promotes Wound Healing by Activating Antioxidant Activity in a Rat Alkali Burn Model.
2022 ・ Int J Mol Sci ・ PMID 36077171

topical application positive animal study
Symbiotic Algae-Bacteria Dressing for Producing Hydrogen to Accelerate Diabetic Wound Healing.
2022 ・ Nano Lett ・ PMID 34928162

topical application positive in vitro study
The Therapeutic Effects of Oral Intake of Hydrogen Rich Water on Cutaneous Wound Healing in Dogs.
2021 ・ Vet Sci ・ PMID 34822637

hydrogen-rich water positive animal study
Hydrotherapy with hydrogen-rich water compared with RICE protocol following acute ankle sprain in professional athletes: a randomized non-inferiority pilot trial.
2021 ・ Res Sports Med ・ PMID 33356580

hydrogen bath null human randomized controlled trial
Antioxidant Activity of Hydrogen Water Mask Pack Composed of Gel-Type Emulsion and Hydrogen Generation Powder.
2020 ・ Int J Mol Sci ・ PMID 33419292

topical application positive human observational study
An Immunohistochemical Study of the Increase in Antioxidant Capacity of Corneal Epithelial Cells by Molecular Hydrogen, Leading to the Suppression of Alkali-Induced Oxidative Stress.
2020 ・ Oxid Med Cell Longev ・ PMID 32655773

topical application positive animal study