Antioxidants are everywhere, plastered across the labels of juice bottles, skincare products, and supplement containers. But they’re not just a marketing buzzword lacking scientific backing; antioxidants are powerful molecules that play a crucial role in our health. They can be found naturally in many foods, particularly fruits and vegetables, and are also produced by our bodies.
The reason antioxidants are so highly touted is their ability to combat free radicals—unstable molecules that can damage our cells and contribute to various diseases and aging. Antioxidants work by donating an electron to these unstable free radicals, effectively neutralizing them. It’s similar to using a fire extinguisher on a fire—the antioxidant quickly steps in to stop the free radical before it can cause widespread damage. By neutralizing these harmful free radicals, antioxidants help reduce oxidative stress, a state of imbalance that’s been linked to everything from heart disease to cancer.
Unlocking Hydrogen’s Health Benefits
While many antioxidants have been proven to be beneficial, one stands out for its unique properties and remarkable potential: Hydrogen (H2). As the most abundant element in the universe, the hydrogen atom (H) is also the simplest, consisting of just one proton and one electron. When two atoms of hydrogen combine, they form hydrogen gas (H2), which is the lightest and smallest molecule known to science. In fact, because it is so light, it escapes gravity and is present in our breathable air in a concentration of less than 1 part per million. While we’ve long understood hydrogen’s role in water and various chemical processes, its potential as a therapeutic agent is a relatively recent discovery.
The story of hydrogen as an antioxidant began in 2007 when a groundbreaking study published in the journal Nature Medicine revealed its selective antioxidant properties (1). This discovery sparked a wave of research into the potential health benefits of hydrogen, from its effects on inflammation to its role in protecting the brain.
Our bodies naturally produce hydrogen, thanks to our gut microbiome. The microbiome refers to the trillions of microorganisms, including bacteria, fungi, and viruses, that live in and on our bodies, with the largest population residing in our gut. A healthy, diverse gut microbiome is crucial for the production of hydrogen, and it is nourished by eating a diet rich in fiber, fruits, vegetables, and fermented foods. However, sometimes the amount of hydrogen produced by the gut isn’t sufficient for therapeutic effects. Fortunately, recent studies have shown that hydrogen can be administered externally as a targeted treatment with many beneficial effects.
Hydrogen, as an antioxidant, is in a class of its own. Its small size and unique properties allow it to perform in ways that set it apart from other antioxidants. In the following sections, we’ll explore five key ways that hydrogen outperforms as an antioxidant, demonstrating why this simple molecule is creating such excitement in the scientific and medical communities.
Hydrogen can be administered via multiple routes
Many traditional antioxidants have limited delivery methods. While polyphenols in berries or green tea, for example, are typically only ingested orally, hydrogen has remarkable versatility in administration. Hydrogen’s unique properties allow it to be delivered through various routes, each offering specific advantages for different health applications. This flexibility makes hydrogen an exceptionally adaptable antioxidant, capable of targeting diverse health concerns through tailored administration methods. The various routes for hydrogen administration include:
- Inhalation of hydrogen gas
- Drinking hydrogen-rich water
- Intravenous infusion of hydrogen-rich saline
- Topical application of hydrogen-rich solutions
- Injection of hydrogen gas into affected areas (e.g., joints)
This versatility in delivery methods allows for personalized treatment approaches based on individual needs and specific health conditions. For instance, a systematic review found that lung cancer patients who inhaled hydrogen gas experienced decreased metastasis and increased survival rates (2). Similarly, drinking hydrogen-rich water has shown positive results when used for gastrointestinal cancers. In the same systematic review, hydrogen therapy was shown to improve the patient’s overall prognosis and even improve appetite, taste, and mental health (2). This adaptability makes hydrogen a therapeutic tool not just in oncology but for a wide range of health conditions.
Hydrogen neutralizes the most dangerous free radicals
Antioxidants are celebrated for their broad-spectrum protection against free radicals, capable of neutralizing a wide range of these harmful molecules. Hydrogen, however, stands out for its precision in targeting the most dangerous and reactive ones. Most traditional antioxidants, like vitamins C and E or polyphenols, are relatively large molecules. Their size can limit their ability to penetrate certain cellular structures or react quickly enough with the most reactive free radicals.
Hydrogen, being the smallest molecule in the universe, doesn’t face these limitations. It can easily penetrate all cellular compartments, including mitochondria and the nucleus, where the most damaging free radicals often wreak havoc (3). In many studies, hydrogen has been shown to react rapidly with the most reactive and harmful free radicals, particularly the hydroxyl radical (•OH) and peroxynitrite (ONOO−) (4). These are considered the most toxic reactive oxygen species due to their indiscriminate reactivity with cellular components.
Hydrogen does not produce toxic byproducts
Unlike many other antioxidants, hydrogen leaves no toxic residue in its wake. When hydrogen molecules neutralize harmful free radicals, they simply form water (H2O) as a byproduct (5). This clean reaction is a significant advantage over other antioxidants that can sometimes create harmful intermediates or become pro-oxidants themselves under certain conditions.
For example, beta-carotene, an antioxidant commonly found in carrots and spinach, can form carbon-centered radical cations, which, if not neutralized, can damage lipids, proteins, and DNA (6). It’s important to note that this does not mean that antioxidants like beta-carotene are inherently bad. Antioxidants play a crucial role in neutralizing free radicals and protecting our cells from oxidative damage. The potential for pro-oxidant activity generally occurs only under specific conditions, such as extremely high doses or the presence of certain metals.
Hydrogen’s clean neutralization process means there’s no risk of creating secondary oxidative stress or burdening the body’s detoxification systems. This makes hydrogen an exceptionally safe choice for long-term use or in situations where the body’s detoxification capabilities might be compromised, such as in certain chronic diseases or during intense medical treatments.
Hydrogen can cross the blood-brain barrier
One of hydrogen’s most remarkable features is its ability to easily cross the blood-brain barrier (BBB) (7). The BBB is a highly selective semipermeable border of endothelial cells that prevents solutes in the circulating blood from non-selectively crossing into the extracellular fluid of the central nervous system. This barrier is crucial for protecting the brain but also poses a significant challenge for delivering therapeutic agents to treat neurological conditions, including brain tumors.
Many antioxidants struggle to cross this barrier effectively. For instance, glutathione, often called the body’s master antioxidant, cannot directly cross the BBB and must be synthesized within the brain (8). Hydrogen, being the smallest molecule in existence, passes through the BBB with ease. This means it can quickly reach the brain and nervous system, providing antioxidant protection in areas that are particularly vulnerable to oxidative stress. This property makes hydrogen a promising agent for treating various neurological conditions, from neurodegenerative diseases to stroke and traumatic brain injury (9).
Hydrogen doesn’t interfere with beneficial free radicals
While we often think of free radicals as harmful, some play crucial roles in cellular signaling and immune function. In fact, “mild” oxidative stress that leverages controlled levels of free radicals (often called reactive oxygen species or ROS) is essential for normal cellular function! Many traditional antioxidants can indiscriminately neutralize both harmful and beneficial free radicals, potentially disrupting important physiological processes.
Hydrogen, however, exhibits a remarkable selectivity in its antioxidant action. It primarily reacts with the most harmful reactive oxygen species while leaving alone the less reactive species that play important roles in cell signaling, like hydrogen peroxide and nitric oxide. This selective action means that hydrogen can reduce oxidative stress without interfering with normal cellular processes (9).
Hydrogen & Cancer: A Powerful Ally in Prevention and Treatment
Hydrogen’s unique properties as an antioxidant make it a promising candidate for supporting integrative approaches to cancer treatment and prevention. Its ability to neutralize the most harmful free radicals, penetrate cellular compartments, and cross the blood-brain barrier sets it apart from traditional antioxidants. In addition to those effects, hydrogen also elicits a multitude of anti-cancer effects.
As previously mentioned, hydrogen is linked to a healthy microbiome, which plays a crucial role in our immune system. A robust immune system is essential for recognizing and eliminating cancer cells before they can form tumors. This is one of many reasons why it’s important to maintain a healthy diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and fiber, such as the Garden Food Plan®.
In addition to the microbiome, recent studies have revealed that hydrogen has several promising anti-cancer effects. Firstly, it can help reduce the side effects of traditional cancer treatments that are toxic and damaging (2). Hydrogen acts as a protective shield, mitigating dangerous levels of oxidative stress, thereby reducing tissue damage and helping to maintain a stronger immune system during treatment.
Hydrogen can also directly combat cancer cells, inhibiting their growth and spread by interfering with certain cellular processes that they rely on (10). Hydrogen also appears to boost the immune system’s ability to fight cancer. It helps prevent T cells (a type of immune cell crucial in fighting cancer) from becoming “exhausted” and enhances their ability to attack tumor cells (11). These combined effects of hydrogen—protecting healthy cells, inhibiting cancer growth, and boosting immune function—contribute to improved outcomes for cancer patients, including better overall survival, enhanced quality of life, and in some cases, reduction in tumor size.
Integrating Nature’s Simplest Molecule into Holistic Health
Hydrogen’s remarkable antioxidant properties offer a powerful tool for promoting health and combating disease. In addition to being produced naturally by our bodies, it can also be administered externally. At our Hope4Cancer Treatment Centers in Mexico, we harness the power of hydrogen therapy using a state-of-the-art hydrogen-oxygen device that offers two primary methods of administration: inhalation and drinking hydrogen-rich water.
This innovative device produces a mixture of high-purity hydrogen and oxygen gases through a process of water electrolysis. For inhalation therapy, the hydrogen-oxygen mixture is delivered to the patient through a nasal cannula. The treatment experience is generally comfortable and non-invasive. Patients simply relax and breathe normally, allowing the hydrogen-oxygen mixture to be absorbed into their bloodstream through their lungs.
The same device can also produce hydrogen-rich water for drinking. This method involves infusing the produced hydrogen gas into water, creating a convenient and easily consumable form of hydrogen therapy. Patients can drink this hydrogen-enriched water throughout the day, providing a sustained intake of this powerful antioxidant.
By offering both inhalation and drinking methods, we ensure that patients can receive the benefits of hydrogen therapy in ways that best suit their needs and preferences. Although we utilize hydrogen therapy for its numerous benefits in supporting cancer patients throughout their healing journey, hydrogen therapy also offers secondary health benefits for a wide range of chronic conditions. Patients often experience improvements in cardiovascular health, inflammatory conditions, respiratory function, and neurological well-being. Additionally, many report enhanced mood, reduced anxiety, and better sleep quality, contributing to an overall improved quality of life during their treatment process. This comprehensive approach allows us to support our patients’ overall health and well-being as part of their overall integrative cancer treatment protocols.
Unlike toxic conventional treatments, hydrogen has virtually no side effects. This makes it an effective standalone treatment and a valuable complement to our holistic approach to cancer care. By combining the power of hydrogen therapy—through both inhalation and hydrogen-rich water—with a healthy lifestyle, including a nutrient-rich diet like the Garden Food Plan®, we can harness the full potential of this simple yet powerful molecule. At Hope4Cancer, we’re committed to integrating cutting-edge therapies like hydrogen treatment with holistic approaches to provide comprehensive, patient-centered care.
References
- Ohsawa, I., M. Ishikawa, K. Takahashi, et al., Hydrogen acts as a therapeutic antioxidant by selectively reducing cytotoxic oxygen radicals. Nat Med, 2007. 13(6): p. 688-94.
- Mohd Noor, M.N.Z., A.S. Alauddin, Y.H. Wong, et al., A Systematic Review of Molecular Hydrogen Therapy in Cancer Management. Asian Pac J Cancer Prev, 2023. 24(1): p. 37-47.
- Barancik, M., B. Kura, T.W. LeBaron, et al., Molecular and Cellular Mechanisms Associated with Effects of Molecular Hydrogen in Cardiovascular and Central Nervous Systems. Antioxidants (Basel), 2020. 9(12).
- Dixon, B.J., J. Tang, and J.H. Zhang, The evolution of molecular hydrogen: a noteworthy potential therapy with clinical significance. Med Gas Res, 2013. 3(1): p. 10.
- Johnsen, H.M., M. Hiorth, and J. Klaveness, Molecular Hydrogen Therapy-A Review on Clinical Studies and Outcomes. Molecules, 2023. 28(23).
- Konovalova, T.A., L.D. Kispert, N.E. Polyakov, et al., EPR spin trapping detection of carbon-centered carotenoid and beta-ionone radicals. Free Radic Biol Med, 2000. 28(7): p. 1030-8.
- Chen, W., H.T. Zhang, and S.C. Qin, Neuroprotective Effects of Molecular Hydrogen: A Critical Review. Neurosci Bull, 2021. 37(3): p. 389-404.
- Aoyama, K., Glutathione in the Brain. Int J Mol Sci, 2021. 22(9).
- Ramanathan, D., L. Huang, T. Wilson, et al., Molecular hydrogen therapy for neurological diseases: a review of current evidence. Med Gas Res, 2023. 13(3): p. 94-98.
- Chen, J.B., X.F. Kong, Y.Y. Lv, et al., “Real world survey” of hydrogen-controlled cancer: a follow-up report of 82 advanced cancer patients. Med Gas Res, 2019. 9(3): p. 115-121.
- Zhou, W., J. Zhang, W. Chen, et al., Prospects of molecular hydrogen in cancer prevention and treatment. J Cancer Res Clin Oncol, 2024. 150(4): p. 170.
