# Therapeutic efficacy of infused molecular hydrogen in saline on rheumatoid arthritis: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled pilot study.
> 関節リウマチに対する水素含有生理食塩水点滴静注の有効性：無作為化二重盲検プラセボ対照パイロット試験


## Abstract

A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled pilot study enrolled 24 patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) to evaluate intravenous infusion of 1 ppm hydrogen-dissolved saline (500 ml daily for 5 consecutive days). The 28-joint disease activity score (DAS28) in the hydrogen group declined from a baseline of 5.18 ± 1.16 to 4.02 ± 1.25 immediately after infusion and further to 3.74 ± 1.22 at the 4-week follow-up, whereas the placebo group showed no significant change. Serum IL-6 fell by 37.3% in the hydrogen group at 4 weeks while rising 33.6% in controls. MMP-3 decreased by 19.2% in the hydrogen group versus an increase of 16.9% in the placebo group. Urinary 8-OHdG, a marker of oxidative DNA damage, was significantly reduced by 4.7% in the hydrogen group. TNF-α levels did not differ markedly between groups. The infusion procedure was well tolerated, with no safety concerns reported.

### Mechanism

Molecular hydrogen is proposed to selectively neutralize reactive oxygen species, particularly hydroxyl radicals, thereby suppressing downstream inflammatory mediators such as IL-6 and MMP-3 and reducing joint inflammation in RA.

## Bibliographic

- **Authors**: Ishibashi T, Sato B, Shibata S, Sakai T, Hara Y, Naritomi Y, et al.
- **Journal**: Int Immunopharmacol
- **Year**: 2014
- **PMID**: [24929023](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24929023/)
- **DOI**: [10.1016/j.intimp.2014.06.001](https://doi.org/10.1016/j.intimp.2014.06.001)
- **Study type**: human randomized controlled trial
- **Delivery route**: injection / infusion
- **Effect reported**: positive

## Delivery context

Intravenous hydrogen-saline infusion is a clinic-only route and is not viable for everyday self-administration. For routine hydrogen intake, inhalation is the most practical route, but inhalation carries explosion risk and concentration matters (empirical LFL of 10%; high-concentration 66% / 100% devices are not recommended).

## Safety notes

Intravenous hydrogen-saline infusion is a clinic-only route and is not viable for everyday self-administration. For routine hydrogen intake, inhalation is the most practical route, but inhalation carries explosion risk and concentration matters (empirical LFL of 10%; high-concentration 66% / 100% devices are not recommended).

See also:
- [Inhalation concentration and LFL / UFL](https://h2-papers.org/en/safety-notes/inhalation-concentration)
- [Consumer Affairs Agency accident cases](https://h2-papers.org/en/safety-notes/accident-cases)
- [Inhalation safety threshold lineage](https://h2-papers.org/en/safety-notes/lineage)

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> **Cite as**: H2 Papers — PMID 24929023. https://h2-papers.org/en/papers/24929023
> **Source**: PubMed PMID [24929023](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24929023/)