“First, do not use industrial hydrogen; second, be sure to choose a medical-grade hydrogen–oxygen generator.” On October 11, Zhong Nanshan, Academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering and Director of the National Clinical Research Center for Respiratory Diseases, stated via video at the “Hydrogen–Oxygen Medicine, Scientific Application” expert media symposium hosted by the People’s Daily Health Client that special attention must be paid to safety when applying hydrogen–oxygen therapy: industrial hydrogen must not be used, and hydrogen–oxygen generators with Class III medical device certification should be selected.
Zhong Nanshan, Academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering and Director of the National Clinical Research Center for Respiratory Diseases
“Inhalation of hydrogen itself is not toxic; rather, industrial hydrogen contains toxic components and therefore cannot be used for treatment in humans.” Academician Zhong explained that some non-compliant devices produce industrial hydrogen through industrial ion-exchange membranes or proton membranes; because the production equipment and transport pipelines are not medical grade, they can be corroded by hydrogen, generating toxic impurities that may cause toxic effects once inhaled. Therefore, ensuring hydrogen purity is critically important.
Because hydrogen is flammable and explosive, hydrogen–oxygen generators must be managed in accordance with high-risk medical device standards. The second issue emphasized by Academician Zhong is that hydrogen–oxygen generators must be Class III medical devices approved by national authorities, which is a key condition for ensuring safe use and therapeutic effectiveness.
As early as 2014, Academician Zhong’s team began studies on the adjuvant use of hydrogen–oxygen mixed gas for airway stenosis, bronchial asthma, and acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; experimental results have demonstrated that hydrogen–oxygen inhalation inhibits the development of smoking-induced COPD in mice, has therapeutic effects on asthma, significantly alleviates dyspnea in patients with airway stenosis, and markedly shortens the disease course during acute COPD exacerbations. Multicenter clinical studies conducted during the pandemic also demonstrated that, with hydrogen–oxygen support, patients with COVID-19 experienced significant reductions in symptoms such as cough and shortness of breath, along with improvements in oxygen saturation.
Since 2017, a total of 96 research papers related to hydrogen–oxygen inhalation have been published globally, 89 of which were published by China; in terms of timing, volume, and the range of indications studied, China has taken a leading position in hydrogen–oxygen medicine research. At the symposium, experts from multiple medical fields also jointly discussed broader applications and prospects of hydrogen–oxygen medicine in respiratory diseases, critical care, oncology treatment, and other areas.
Professor Li Jian’an, Chairman of the Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Branch of the Chinese Medical Association, stated that although hydrogen–oxygen research in medicine is still at an early or exploratory stage, recent investigations have shown encouraging trends. For example, applications of hydrogen–oxygen medicine in patients with coma and disorders of consciousness have already demonstrated positive effects, suggesting its potential as an adjuvant therapeutic option for disorders of consciousness; exploratory studies on hydrogen–oxygen therapy in improving sleep quality have also shown positive results. In addition, hydrogen–oxygen medicine may offer benefits for patients with chronic diseases, particularly those with declining cardiopulmonary function, as well as for populations working at high altitude or in hypoxic environments.
As the representative of the only hydrogen–oxygen generator product in China currently approved by the National Medical Products Administration as a Class III medical device, Lin Xinyong, founder of Asclepius Meditec, stated that research and application of hydrogen–oxygen medicine have exceeded 15 years; in 2017, Asclepius Meditec’s R&D project was designated a national innovation project, and related products have since obtained national approval for seven clinical applications, including adjuvant treatment of acute exacerbations of COPD; Asclepius Meditec will continue to support and advance R&D and innovation in hydrogen–oxygen medicine, integrating commercial insurance services to meet the needs of more patients.
Academician Zhong noted that a series of studies are currently underway in China on the effects of hydrogen–oxygen therapy in oncology, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and “three-high” conditions; the Chinese Association of Rehabilitation Medicine is also preparing to establish a Hydrogen–Oxygen Medicine Professional Committee to promote academic exchange, conduct larger-scale clinical trials, advance primary public health services, and explore integration with commercial insurance to reduce patient burden, thereby further accelerating China’s new explorations in global life sciences.
Editor: Ma Jiayue
