Molecular hydrogen reduces acute exercise-induced inflammatory and oxidative stress status.
急性運動誘発性炎症および酸化ストレスに対する分子状水素吸入の影響
Abstract
Sedentary rats exercised on a treadmill at 80% of maximum running speed while inhaling either 2% H2 gas or a control gas mixture. Animals were sacrificed immediately or 3 hours post-exercise. Plasma concentrations of TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 were measured alongside oxidative stress markers including superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, thiobarbituric acid reactive species (TBARS), and nitrite/nitrate (NOx). Intracellular signaling via GSK3α/β and CREB phosphorylation was also evaluated. Exercise elevated all measured parameters. H2 inhalation suppressed the exercise-induced rises in TNF-α and IL-6, enhanced SOD activity, and reduced TBARS levels at the 3-hour time point. CREB phosphorylation, which increased with exercise, was attenuated by H2, whereas GSK3α/β phosphorylation was unaffected by either exercise or H2. These findings indicate that H2 inhalation modulates multiple stress-response pathways activated during acute exercise.
Mechanism
H2 inhalation suppresses exercise-induced TNF-α and IL-6 surges, enhances SOD-mediated antioxidant capacity, reduces lipid peroxidation (TBARS), and attenuates CREB phosphorylation, collectively dampening inflammatory and oxidative stress cascades in skeletal muscle.
Bibliographic
- Authors
- Nogueira JE, Passaglia P, Mota CMD, Santos BM, Batalhão ME, Carnio EC, et al.
- Journal
- Free Radic Biol Med
- Year
- 2018
- PMID
- 30243702
- DOI
- 10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2018.09.028
Tags
Delivery context
In air, molecular hydrogen is reported to be combustible across approximately **4% (LFL, lower flammability limit) to 75% (UFL, upper flammability limit)**. Among high-concentration hydrogen inhalers, 66% output sits inside this range, and even pure-hydrogen (100%) output forms a 4–75% concentration-gradient layer at the device–air boundary (the UFL 75% paradox). Engineering principle would therefore call for operation below LFL (the classical 4%); that figure, however, was measured under closed, pre-mixed, static conditions. For the open, dynamic inhalation environment, the empirical value reported in the literature is **10%**, which is the figure referenced in practice as the operating ceiling. The 66% / 100% output devices are recorded in the Japanese Consumer Affairs Agency accident-information database, and from these considerations are not recommended.
Safety notes
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