Scientists from the Autonomous University of Barcelona have shown in animals that water enriched with hydrogen molecules relieves neuropathic pain. The research was published in the journal antioxidants.
The authors injected water enriched with molecular hydrogen into neuropathic pain model mice. The procedure relieved pain symptoms and associated emotional distress. Scientists suggest that molecular hydrogen has an anti-inflammatory effect.
In the future, scientists will test other routes of administration, including oral administration. The authors also plan to study the effects of hydrogen in mice undergoing chemotherapy, as neuropathic pain becomes a major side effect in many cases.
Most of the research on the effects of molecular hydrogen has been done in animals, not humans. Therefore, the benefits of hydrogen-enriched water are still not scientifically proven and require further research.
However, treatments for neuropathic pain caused by nerve damage are limited and often associated with multiple side effects that affect patients’ quality of life. That’s why scientists are considering all possible options to alleviate symptoms in patients with neuropathic pain.