Molecular hydrogen: current knowledge on mechanism in alleviating free radical damage and diseases.

Abstract

Since molecular hydrogen was identified as a selective hydroxyl radical scavenger in 2007, beneficial effects have been documented across more than 170 disease models and human conditions, including ischemia-reperfusion injury, metabolic syndrome, inflammation, and cancer. Overproduction of reactive oxygen species is a common feature of these pathological states, and hydrogen has been consistently shown to act as a selective antioxidant. This review consolidates current knowledge on how hydrogen modulates biological systems at both the systemic and cellular levels. Topics covered include antioxidative, anti-inflammatory, and anti-apoptotic properties, protection of mitochondria and the endoplasmic reticulum, regulation of intracellular signaling cascades, and modulation of immune cell subset balance. The authors aim to provide a structured overview that supports deeper mechanistic investigation.

Mechanism

Molecular hydrogen selectively scavenges hydroxyl radicals and exerts antioxidative, anti-inflammatory, and anti-apoptotic effects by protecting mitochondria and the endoplasmic reticulum, regulating intracellular signaling pathways, and balancing immune cell subtype composition.