Hydrogen: A Potential New Adjuvant Therapy for COVID-19 Patients.
COVID-19患者における水素の補助的活用の可能性に関する考察
Abstract
Molecular hydrogen exhibits multiple biological properties including antioxidant activity, anti-inflammatory effects, hormone regulation, and resistance to apoptosis. This review examines the possibility that H2 administration during the early phase of SARS-CoV-2 infection could help suppress excessive cytokine release and associated lung damage, facilitate clearance of viscous secretions, and lower the rate of disease progression to severe stages. The authors note that definitive conclusions regarding efficacy and safety will require confirmation through large-scale clinical investigations.
Mechanism
H2 may mitigate SARS-CoV-2-induced lung injury by scavenging reactive oxygen species and suppressing the excessive cytokine cascade, while also facilitating sputum clearance through its anti-inflammatory properties.
Bibliographic
- Authors
- Yang F, Yue R, Luo X, Liu R, Huang X
- Journal
- Front Pharmacol
- Year
- 2020
- PMID
- 33178011
- DOI
- 10.3389/fphar.2020.543718
- PMC
- PMC7593510
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
See also: