Molecular Hydrogen as a Medical Gas for the Treatment of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: Possible Efficacy Based on a Literature Review.
Shin-Ichi Hirano, Yusuke Ichikawa, Bunpei Sato, Yoshiyasu Takefuji, Fumitake Satoh · Frontiers in neurology · 2022
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
This narrative review examined the available molecular-hydrogen literature. The reviewed evidence adds support for molecular hydrogen's therapeutic potential across the conditions, mechanisms, or outcomes examined.
What the Findings Mean
H2HUBB reviewed this publication as a synthesis of molecular-hydrogen research and summarizes the outcomes emphasized by the authors. The researchers conducted a literature review on the mechanism by which H₂ improves acute and chronic fatigue in animals and healthy people and showed that the attenuation of mitochondrial dysfunction by H₂ may be involved in the ameliorative effects.
What the Researchers Studied
The authors reviewed molecular Hydrogen as a Medical Gas for the Treatment of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: Possible Efficacy Based on a Literature Review.
What Effects Did Molecular Hydrogen Have?
Since H₂ ameliorates mitochondrial dysfunction ( 43 ), the researchers herein reviewed the literature for the anti-fatigue effects of H₂ in animal studies and human clinical trials. The findings of the literature review suggested that H₂ exerts anti-fatigue effects, and that these effects may involve not only the direct scavenging of mitochondria-generated ROS by H₂, but also its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects through the regulation of gene expression ( 31, 46, 50 ). Since mitochondrial dysfunction is also involved in the etiology of ME/CFS ( 5 – 25 ), the literature review also suggested that the anti-fatigue effects of H₂ in animal and human clinical studies indicate a possible ameliorative effect of H₂ on ME/CFS ( 57, 58, 62, 63 ). The researchers conducted a literature review on the mechanism by which H₂ improves acute and chronic fatigue in animals and healthy people and showed that the attenuation of mitochondrial dysfunction by H₂ may be involved in the ameliorative effects. The authors concluded that although further clinical trials are needed to determine the efficacy and mechanism of H₂ gas in ME/CFS, the authors' literature review suggested that H₂ gas may be an effective medical gas for the treatment of ME/CFS.
Why These Findings Matter
The reviewed evidence adds support for molecular hydrogen's therapeutic potential across the conditions, mechanisms, or outcomes examined.
How Strong Is This Evidence?
This is review or synthesis evidence (narrative review).
Technical Study Details
H2HUBB classifies this publication as narrative review with review or synthesis evidence. The study used a narrative review.
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.