Inhalation of hydrogen improves the condition in rats suffering from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (BPCO)

A research on rats from the 2017 has demonstrated the usefulness of hydrogen inhalation in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (BPCO)

Translation of the English text:

“Context: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (BPCO) is a progressive lung disease caused by harmful gases or particles. Recent studies have shown that hydrogen al 2% o Hydrogen water is effective in treating and preventing several diseases. This study investigated the beneficial effects and possible mechanisms of different hydrogen concentrations on COPD.

Methods: through the’ Exposure to smoke has been established as a model of COPD in rats, and later inhalation of different concentrations of hydrogen was used as an action. The condition of the rats was analyzed daily, weight changes, lung function and right ventricular hypertrophy index. Moreover, white blood cells were sampled in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid. Pathological changes in lung tissue were analyzed using light microscopy and electron microscopy; Cardiovascular structure and pulmonary artery pressure changes in rats were observed using ultra-sonography. Tumor necrosis factor alpha, the interleukin (THE)-6, IL-17, IL-23, matrix metalloproteinase-12, the tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1, caspasi-3, caspase-8 protein and mRNA levels in lung tissue were determined by immunohistochemistry, and the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in real time.

Results: The results demonstrate that hydrogen inhalation significantly reduced the number of inflammatory cells in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid and the expression levels of tumor necrosis factor alpha mRNA and protein., IL-6, IL-17, IL-23, matrix metalloproteinase-12, caspasi-3 e caspasi-8, and increased tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 expression. Moreover, hydrogen inhalation improved lung pathology, lung function and cardiovascular function and reduced the right ventricular hypertrophy index. Inhaling hydrogen al 22% e al 41,6% have shown better results than inhaling hydrogen al 2%.

Conclusions: These findings suggest that hydrogen inhalation slows the development of COPD-like lung disease in a cigarette smoke-induced rat model.. Higher concentrations of hydrogen may be more effective in the rat model.”

In Italy this pathology is instead treated with methods “compassionate” including expensive and useless chemotherapy