# Clinical Use and Treatment Mechanism of Molecular Hydrogen in the Treatment of Various Kidney Diseases including Diabetic Kidney Disease.
> 糖尿病性腎臓病を含む各種腎疾患における分子状水素の臨床応用と作用機序に関するレビュー


## Abstract

Diabetic kidney disease (DKD) is a leading cause of chronic kidney disease and end-stage renal failure, yet current pharmacological options show limited efficacy. Molecular hydrogen (H2) selectively scavenges hydroxyl radicals and has been shown to exert antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and cell-death-regulatory effects, as well as to modulate intracellular signaling pathways. Because mitochondrial dysfunction, oxidative stress, and inflammation are central to DKD onset and progression, H2 represents a mechanistically relevant candidate. This review systematically examined animal and human clinical studies in which H2 demonstrated efficacy across a range of renal conditions. The accumulated evidence, combined with the authors' prior findings, indicates that H2 may slow DKD progression primarily by restoring mitochondrial function. The authors conclude that large-scale prospective clinical trials are necessary to confirm these preliminary observations.

### Mechanism

H2 selectively neutralizes hydroxyl radicals, reduces inflammatory signaling, suppresses cell death pathways, and restores mitochondrial function, collectively attenuating the oxidative and inflammatory drivers of diabetic kidney disease progression.

## Bibliographic

- **Authors**: Hirano S, Ichikawa Y, Sato B, Takefuji Y, Satoh F
- **Journal**: Biomedicines
- **Year**: 2023 (2023-10-17)
- **PMID**: [37893190](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37893190/)
- **DOI**: [10.3390/biomedicines11102817](https://doi.org/10.3390/biomedicines11102817)
- **PMC**: [PMC10603947](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10603947/)
- **Study type**: review
- **Delivery route**: mixed routes
- **Effect reported**: not assessed

## Delivery context

This study combines multiple delivery routes. As a general principle, the most efficient route for routine hydrogen intake is inhalation. Inhalation carries explosion risk (empirical LFL of 10%; high-concentration devices are documented in the Consumer Affairs Agency accident database and are not recommended).

## Safety notes

This study combines multiple delivery routes. As a general principle, the most efficient route for routine hydrogen intake is inhalation. Inhalation carries explosion risk (empirical LFL of 10%; high-concentration devices are documented in the Consumer Affairs Agency accident database and 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 37893190. https://h2-papers.org/en/papers/37893190
> **Source**: PubMed PMID [37893190](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37893190/)