Hydrogen Therapy Reduces Oxidative Stress-associated Risks Following Acute and Chronic Exposure to High-altitude Environment

Abstract

Low pressure, low oxygen concentration, and intense ultraviolet (UV) radiation in high-altitude environments, can cause oxidative stress which can trigger mountain sickness. A recent study demonstrated that hydrogen gas with a good permeability in biological membranes can treat various disorders by exerting its selective anti-oxidation and anti-inflammatory effects, indicating that hydrogen therapy plays a role in scavenging free radicals and in balancing oxidation and anti-oxidation systems of cells. Therefore, we hypothesize that inhaling low-dose hydrogen or drinking hydrogen-saturated water is a novel and simple method to prevent and treat oxidative stress injury caused by low pressure, low oxygen concentration and intense UV radiation in plateaus, thus reducing the risk of mountain sickness.