Clinical Efficacy of Hydrogen Therapy on Acute Radiation Enteritis and Inflammatory Response in Patients with Cervical Cancer Undergoing Concurrent Chemoradiation Therapy.
子宮頸癌同時化学放射線療法における急性放射線腸炎および炎症反応に対する水素吸入の臨床的有効性
Abstract
A prospective randomized trial enrolled 58 cervical cancer patients receiving concurrent chemoradiation therapy (CCRT), assigned to hydrogen inhalation (n=28) or control (n=30). The hydrogen group inhaled a 66.6% H2 / 33.3% O2 gas mixture at 3 L/min for 2 hours on each radiation day. Compared with controls, the hydrogen group demonstrated significantly reduced C-reactive protein, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio, interleukin-6 levels, and fecal occult blood positivity. Enteritis severity grading and nutritional assessment scores were also more favorable in the hydrogen group. Tumor response evaluated by RECIST criteria did not differ between groups, indicating no interference with antitumor efficacy. No hydrogen-related adverse events were recorded, supporting the safety profile of this adjunctive approach.
Mechanism
Inhaled molecular hydrogen is proposed to exert antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects, reducing systemic inflammatory biomarkers such as CRP, IL-6, and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio, thereby attenuating radiation-induced intestinal mucosal injury.
Bibliographic
- Authors
- Liu B, Bao Y, Ma J, Wang X, Feng YQ
- Journal
- Adv Radiat Oncol
- Year
- 2025
- PMID
- 41020280
- DOI
- 10.1016/j.adro.2025.101879
- PMC
- PMC12466126
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: