Effect of hydrogen-oxygen inhalation on sleep disorders and abnormal mood: a single-blind, randomized controlled trial.
Yu Hong Gao, Jun Chen, Hua Zhong, Qiang Zhao · Medical gas research · 2026
Research-use notice
Independent study record
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H2HUBB TAKEAWAY
In 2 patients with sleep disorders, the control group showed no significant changes in sleep parameters during treatment, whereas the hydrogen-oxygen group showed significant improvements in total sleep time and sleep efficiency on days 3, 5, and 7 and significant reductions in wake time on days 3 and 7. After 7 days, the scores of the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index and Self-Rating Depression Scale in the hydrogen-oxygen group were lower than those in the control group, whereas the Self-Rating Anxiety Scale scores did not differ significantly. These findings add human evidence supporting molecular hydrogen's therapeutic potential to influence sleep-related outcomes.
What the Findings Mean
H2HUBB reviewed how molecular hydrogen affected the outcomes measured in 2 patients with sleep disorders. The control group showed no significant changes in sleep parameters during treatment, whereas the hydrogen-oxygen group showed significant improvements in total sleep time and sleep efficiency on days 3, 5, and 7 and significant reductions in wake time on days 3 and 7. After 7 days, the scores of the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index and Self-Rating Depression Scale in the hydrogen-oxygen group were lower than those in the control group, whereas the Self-Rating Anxiety Scale scores did not differ significantly.
What the Researchers Studied
The researchers studied 2 patients with sleep disorders. The study used a randomized human clinical trial. The comparison condition was control condition or baseline measurements.
What Effects Did Molecular Hydrogen Have?
Source-reported hydrogen concentration: 66.7% source-reported H₂ gas concentration; Source-reported hydrogen exposure: 66.7% source-reported H₂ gas concentration; 60 mL/min total gas flow (approximately 40.02 mL/min H₂ component). The control group showed no significant changes in sleep parameters during treatment, whereas the hydrogen-oxygen group showed significant improvements in total sleep time and sleep efficiency on days 3, 5, and 7 and significant reductions in wake time on days 3 and 7. After 7 days, the scores of the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index and Self-Rating Depression Scale in the hydrogen-oxygen group were lower than those in the control group, whereas the Self-Rating Anxiety Scale scores did not differ significantly. The authors concluded that the findings indicated that, compared with the control group, the hydrogen–oxygen group exhibited significant improvements in total sleep time, sleep efficiency, and wake time, highlighting the potential of hydrogen–oxygen inhalation therapy as a novel treatment for sleep disorders. While hydrogen has anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antifibrotic effects and has potential applications in disease management, its impact on sleep disorders remains unclear. Low-dose hydrogen–oxygen inhalation for the treatment of sleep disorders is currently in the clinical trial stage, and the potential mechanism requires further in vivo confirmation.
Why These Findings Matter
These findings add human evidence supporting molecular hydrogen's therapeutic potential to influence sleep-related outcomes and contribute to the growing body of molecular-hydrogen research.
How Strong Is This Evidence?
This is human clinical evidence from a randomized human clinical trial. H2HUBB interprets the findings in the context of the study design, sample, comparator, and measured outcomes rather than using one publication as a verdict on hydrogen therapy.
Technical Study Details
H2HUBB classifies this publication as human clinical study with human clinical evidence. The research population or model was 2 patients with sleep disorders. The reported sample size was 6. The study used a randomized human clinical trial. The source-reported hydrogen concentration was 66.7% source-reported H₂ gas concentration.
Limitations and Safety
No separate limitations or safety findings were identified in the current-study source text available to H2HUBB.
Original Study and H2HUBB Research Context
H2HUBB presents this source-grounded research record as one contribution to the broader molecular-hydrogen evidence base.