水素医学の最近の進展：分子状水素の予防・医療応用における可能性
Oxidative stress underlies many lifestyle-related diseases, malignancies, and aging. Conventional antioxidants have shown limited clinical utility. Molecular hydrogen (H2) has been proposed as a selective antioxidant that diffuses rapidly into tissues and cells without disrupting normal redox signaling or metabolic reactions, suggesting a favorable safety profile. Multiple administration routes have been investigated, including gas inhalation, oral hydrogen-rich water, hydrogen baths, intravenous or intraperitoneal hydrogen-rich saline, ocular drops, and enhancement of intestinal bacterial H2 production. Since the landmark 2007 Nature Medicine report, biological effects of H2 have been documented across more than 38 disease conditions and physiological states in peer-reviewed journals, with clinical investigations underway. Beyond antioxidant activity, H2 exhibits anti-inflammatory and antiallergic properties and modulates gene expression and protein phosphorylation, although the precise molecular mechanisms responsible for these effects at very low concentrations remain to be elucidated.
H2 selectively neutralizes highly reactive oxygen species such as hydroxyl radicals without interfering with ROS involved in cell signaling or normal metabolic redox reactions. It also modulates gene expression and protein phosphorylation, contributing to anti-inflammatory and antiallergic effects.
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:
https://h2-papers.org/en/papers/21736547