New possibilities of the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular pathologies. the potential of molecular hydrogen in the reduction of oxidative stress and its consequences.

Abstract

An imbalance between reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation and the body's antioxidant defenses underlies oxidative stress, which is recognized as a shared pathological mechanism in cardiovascular diseases, aging, and cognitive impairment. When free radical production—arising from partial oxygen reduction—exceeds cellular antioxidant capacity, damage to lipids, proteins, DNA, and RNA ensues, accompanied by inflammation and cellular degeneration. Conventional antioxidants have shown limited efficacy in clinical settings. Molecular hydrogen (H2) offers a distinct advantage: it selectively neutralizes hydroxyl radicals (·OH), the most reactive ROS, while leaving physiologically necessary ROS intact for normal cell signaling. This review examines the physicochemical basis of H2's antioxidant selectivity and its potential relevance to cardiovascular pathologies and related oxidative stress conditions.

Mechanism

H2 selectively scavenges hydroxyl radicals (·OH) without eliminating physiologically essential ROS, thereby reducing oxidative damage to lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids and attenuating downstream inflammatory responses in cardiovascular and related pathologies.