Consumption of molecular hydrogen in the human body during inhalation of hydrogen gasScientific Research

Published on: 20130101

Molecular Hydrogen Consumption in the Human Body During the Inhalation of Hydrogen Gas

• Akito Shimouchi,
• Kazutoshi Nose,
• Tomoe Mizukami,
• Dock-Chil Che &
• Mikiyasu Shirai
• DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4614-7411-1_42

Abstract

Breathing or ingesting hydrogen (H2) ameliorates damage caused by oxidative stress in animal models and humans. We previously reported that the entire body consumes H2 after ingesting H2-enriched water with a rate of H2 consumption (VH2) of 1.0 μmol/min/m2 body surface area. To confirm this result, we evaluated VH2 during inhalation of small amounts of H2 gas. Subjects inhaled a small amount (160 ppm) of H2 gas mixed with purified artificial air after measuring baseline levels of H2 exhaled during room air breathing through a one-way valve and mouthpiece. Their inhaled and exhaled H2 levels were measured by gas chromatography using semiconductor sensors. VH2 was calculated using ventilation equations derived from inhaled and exhaled O2/CO2/H2 concentrations and exhaled minute ventilation, measured using the Respimonitor. As a result, a VH2 value of about 0.7 μmol/min/m2BSA was found, which is consistent with the results we obtained using H2-rich water. When fasting was not used before treatment to reduce colonic fermentation, VH2 changed significantly, ie. H. When the subject’s baseline breath hydrogen level is 10 ppm or higher. Our H2 inhalation method can be used to non-invasively monitor the production of hydroxyl radicals in the human body.

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