New research suggests oral administration of the antioxidant molecular hydrogen via hydrogen water may offer therapeutic value to patients with Pulmonary Hypertension.
Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is a condition caused by increased pressure in the pulmonary arteries. In advanced cases, its symptoms (shortness of breath, tiredness, chest pain) worsen and may limit all physical activity. 
The most-used therapies rely on vasodilators of several kinds. However, traditional treatments have failed to block the progress of disease effectively.
In patients with PH, there is a significant increase in reactive oxygen species (ROS), a condition named Oxidative Stress. Their accumulation can seriously damage cells, for which treatment with antioxidants has proven effective. However, since high doses of nonselective antioxidants (i.e., antioxidants that bind multiple receptors in several different areas in the body) can have detrimental effects (e.g. hemorrhage), selective antioxidants like molecular hydrogen (H2) are found to be a safer and more efficient therapy for PH patients. H2 selectively reduces two 4 specific ROS (hydroxyl radicals and peroxynitrite) without impacting what is now described as physiological ROS (e.g. ROS found to be beneficial and necessary for cells’ survival).
In this study, the team found that H2 prevented the development of PH and reversed RV hypertrophy (thickened muscle around the heart’s right lower chamber). Accordingly with previous studies, the therapeutic effect of H2 was related to its antioxidant and anti- inflammatory activities. Additionally, though both H2 delivery methods (intraperitoneal injection and oral administration) were equally effective, the authors proposed using oral administration in the treatment of Pulmonary Hypertension since it proves less expensive and offers a longer-release time.
Bottom Line:
Research shows oral administration of molecular hydrogen (H2) is effective in treating Pulmonary Hypertension (PH)
(PH) is a condition caused by increased pressure in the pulmonary arteries that results in debilitating symptoms of chest pain, fatigue, and shortness of breath
In the study, H2 was found to prevent the development of PH and actually reverse RV hypertrophy
