kidney disease

45 papers

Research evidence summary

Q: Does molecular hydrogen help with kidney disease?

A: Of 45 peer-reviewed papers, 37 reported a positive effect (the most common), 2 limited/mixed, 1 negative, 5 not assessed. Study mix: 6 human (1 RCT), 32 animal/basic, 6 meta-analysis or synthesis. The most studied delivery route is hydrogen-rich water. The above aggregates published research and does not constitute a clinically established conclusion. See the individual paper pages for details and Safety notes for inhalation safety. (last updated 2026-05-15)

Evidence breakdown
Human	6	of which RCT	1
Animal/basic	32	Synthesis/meta	6
Reported effect	positive 37 ・ limited/mixed 2 ・ negative 1 ・ not assessed 5

Read the safety notes →

Delivery-method distribution

hydrogen-rich water: 21 injection / infusion: 10 inhalation: 6 mixed routes: 4 in vitro: 2 not specified: 1 animal model: 1

Molecular hydrogen and kidney diseases: a scoping review based on scientometry and data analytics.
2026 ・ Med Gas Res ・ PMID 40826940

mixed routes positive review
Innovations in peritoneal dialysis fluid: biocompatible formulations and expanded therapeutic applications.
2025 ・ Ren Fail ・ PMID 41285129

not specified not assessed review
Molecular hydrogen attenuates cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity by modulating β-hydroxybutyrate metabolism.
2025 ・ Mol Biol Rep ・ PMID 40705191

inhalation positive animal study
Long-term administration of hydrogen-rich water enhances quality of life in diabetic rats and reduces renal neoplasm incidence through modulation of inflammatory and metabolic pathways.
2025 ・ Transl Androl Urol ・ PMID 40687659

hydrogen-rich water positive animal study
Hemodialysis employing molecular hydrogen (H) enriched dialysis solution may improve dialysis related fatigue through impact on energy metabolism.
2025 ・ Sci Rep ・ PMID 39934143

injection / infusion positive human observational study
Molecular Hydrogen as a Potential Adjunctive Therapy to Improve Renal Function and Reduce Fatigue in an Elderly Patient With Chronic Comorbidities: A Case Report.
2025 ・ In Vivo ・ PMID 39740897

hydrogen-rich water positive human case report
Combating oxidative stress and inflammation in gentamicin-induced nephrotoxicity using hydrogen-rich water.
2024 ・ Tissue Cell ・ PMID 39531856

hydrogen-rich water positive animal study
Potential role of molecular hydrogen therapy on oxidative stress and redox signaling in chronic kidney disease.
2024 ・ Biomed Pharmacother ・ PMID 38795643

mixed routes not assessed review
Clinical Use and Treatment Mechanism of Molecular Hydrogen in the Treatment of Various Kidney Diseases including Diabetic Kidney Disease.
2023 ・ Biomedicines ・ PMID 37893190

mixed routes not assessed review
Molecular hydrogen: prospective treatment strategy of kidney damage after cardiac surgery.
2023 ・ Can J Physiol Pharmacol ・ PMID 37463517

inhalation positive animal study
Inhalation of 4% and 67% hydrogen ameliorates oxidative stress, inflammation, apoptosis, and necroptosis in a rat model of glycerol-induced acute kidney injury.
2023 ・ Med Gas Res ・ PMID 36204787

inhalation positive animal study
Effect of water diuresis with hydrogen saturation on the course of acute kidney damage during the separation of oxidation and phosphorylation.
2022 ・ J Med Life ・ PMID 36567846

hydrogen-rich water positive animal study
Electrolyzed-Reduced Water: Review II: Safety Concerns and Effectiveness as a Source of Hydrogen Water.
2022 ・ Int J Mol Sci ・ PMID 36498838

hydrogen-rich water mixed review
Development of a novel porcine ischemia/reperfusion model inducing different ischemia times in bilateral kidneys-effects of hydrogen gas inhalation.
2022 ・ Transl Androl Urol ・ PMID 35558259

inhalation mixed animal study
Quantification of dissolved Hand continuous monitoring of hydrogen-rich water for haemodialysis applications: An experimental study.
2022 ・ Int J Artif Organs ・ PMID 35075943

in vitro not assessed in vitro study
Hydrogen-rich water reduced oxidative stress and renal fibrosis in rats with unilateral ureteral obstruction.
2022 ・ Pediatr Res ・ PMID 34365467

hydrogen-rich water positive animal study
Oral Hydrogen-Rich Water Alleviates Oxalate-Induced Kidney Injury by Suppressing Oxidative Stress, Inflammation, and Fibrosis.
2021 ・ Front Med (Lausanne) ・ PMID 34490303

hydrogen-rich water positive animal study
Design, synthesis, characterization, and antioxidant activity studies of novel thienyl-pyrazoles.
2021 ・ Heliyon ・ PMID 34355092

in vitro positive in vitro study
The protective effect of hydrogen-rich water on rats with type 2 diabetes mellitus.
2021 ・ Mol Cell Biochem ・ PMID 33830396

hydrogen-rich water positive animal study
[THE USE OF MOLECULAR HYDROGEN IN CORRECTION OF NO-REFLOW SYNDROME IN THE POLYURIC STAGE OF SUBLIMATE NEPHROPATHY].
2021 ・ Georgian Med News ・ PMID 33814411

hydrogen-rich water positive animal study
Daily inhalation of hydrogen gas has a blood pressure-lowering effect in a rat model of hypertension.
2020 ・ Sci Rep ・ PMID 33244027

inhalation positive animal study
Molecular hydrogen improves type 2 diabetes through inhibiting oxidative stress.
2020 ・ Exp Ther Med ・ PMID 32537002

animal model positive animal study
Oral Administration of Si-Based Agent Attenuates Oxidative Stress and Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury in a Rat Model: A Novel Hydrogen Administration Method.
2020 ・ Front Med (Lausanne) ・ PMID 32266279

hydrogen-rich water positive animal study
Hydrogen-rich water alleviates cyclosporine A-induced nephrotoxicity via the Keap1/Nrf2 signaling pathway.
2020 ・ J Biochem Mol Toxicol ・ PMID 32040235

hydrogen-rich water positive animal study
Molecular hydrogen regulates PTEN-AKT-mTOR signaling via ROS to alleviate peritoneal dialysis-related peritoneal fibrosis.
2020 ・ FASEB J ・ PMID 31930571

injection / infusion positive animal study