Exploratory Evaluation of Hydrogen-Rich Water Therapy for Keloid Management: A Double-Blinded Randomized Pilot Trial.
Xinwen Kuang, Zhengyun Liang, Mengjie Shan, Yan Hao, Yijun Xia, Chao Xia, Hao Liu, Qiao Chen, Guojing Chang, Qianjun He, Youbin Wang · Aesthetic plastic surgery · 2026
Research-use notice
Independent study record
Each H2HUBB study page organizes source-linked research details for educational use. Interpretation should remain proportional to the study design, population, controls, and limitations.
H2HUBB TAKEAWAY
In 21 patients, anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 levels significantly increased after hydrogen-rich water therapy, while inflammation-related cytokines VEGF and TGF-β levels significantly decreased. These findings add human evidence supporting molecular hydrogen's therapeutic potential to influence inflammatory regulation.
What the Findings Mean
H2HUBB reviewed how hydrogen-rich water affected the outcomes measured in 21 patients. Anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 levels significantly increased after hydrogen-rich water therapy, while inflammation-related cytokines VEGF and TGF-β levels significantly decreased.
What the Researchers Studied
The researchers studied 21 patients. The study used a randomized human clinical trial. The comparison condition was control condition or baseline measurements.
What Effects Did Molecular Hydrogen Have?
The HRW group received hydrogen in their drinking water, while the Con group drank hydrogen-free water. Anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 levels significantly increased after hydrogen-rich water therapy, while inflammation-related cytokines VEGF and TGF-β levels significantly decreased. The authors concluded that hydrogen-rich water therapy appears to be a safe and promising approach for symptom relief and inflammation modulation in keloid patients. Clinical or experimental trials have shown that hydrogen-rich water has anti-inflammatory properties, but its use for keloids has not been studied.
Why These Findings Matter
These findings add human evidence supporting molecular hydrogen's therapeutic potential to influence inflammatory regulation 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 21 patients. The study used a randomized human clinical trial. The hydrogen delivery method was hydrogen-rich water.
Limitations and Safety
No separate limitations or safety findings were identified in the 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.