Hydrogen therapy: An emerging therapeutic strategy in cancer treatment?

Abstract

Hydrogen therapy: An emerging therapeutic strategy in cancer treatment? Professor Giovanni Brandi (1,2) and Dr Simona Tavolari (1,2) from the University of Bologna discuss findings from preclinical and clinical studies that highlight the potential of hydrogen therapy in cancer treatment. Hydrogen is the lightest chemical element and is present in the atmosphere at non-toxic concentrations (less than one part per million) as a colourless and odourless gas. In humans, it is produced from carbohydrates not absorbed in the intestine through the anaerobic metabolism of some intestinal bacteria containing the enzyme hydrogenase. Then, it is partially diffused into the bloodstream and released from the lungs during exhalation. Considered for a long time a physiologically inert gas, recent studies have demonstrated that hydrogen possesses significant antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties that make the use of this molecule potentially applicable in many different clinical settings, including cancer treatment.