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In 2024, Springer published the collective monograph Molecular Hydrogen in Health and Disease, edited by Jan Slezak and Branislav Kura (Centre of Experimental Medicine, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Bratislava). The book is part of the Advances in Biochemistry in Health and Disease series (Vol. 27) and includes 26 chapters dedicated to the biological effects of molecular hydrogen (H2) and its potential applications in biomedicine.
The idea for the book emerged shortly after the 1st Conference of the European Academy for Molecular Hydrogen Research in Biomedicine (Smolenice, October 2022).
An important reference point mentioned is the 2007 publication (S. Ohta’s group) describing the selective antioxidant effects of molecular hydrogen. The book reviews a broad range of experimental and clinical studies, while emphasizing that the mechanisms of action of H2 remain an active area of research.
Key Thematic Areas
1) Mechanisms and Targets
- identification of direct biological targets of H2 and discussion of competing hypotheses;
- the role of redox signaling, hormones, and cytokines in indirect effects;
- mitochondria as a central focus of discussion.
2) Cardiovascular and Radiation-Related Effects
- radiation-induced heart disease and the potential role of H2;
- experimental models and molecular markers (including connexin-43);
- perioperative scenarios (e.g., simulated heart transplantation).
3) Metabolism, Liver, and Gut
- non-communicable and metabolic disorders;
- a review of hepatic function (including a systematic review and meta-analysis);
- potential links between H2 and gut microbiota in inflammatory bowel disease.
4) Aging, Recovery, and Sports
- chapters addressing age-related conditions;
- assessment of physiological responses to exercise and H2 administration in trained athletes.
5) Technologies and Methodologies
- measurement of dissolved H2 (critical for cross-study comparability);
- comparison of different hydrogen sources and their antioxidant activity;
- delivery devices and approaches (including dermatological and experimental techniques).
List of Chapters
- Hydrogen: From Stars to Fuel to Medicine
- An Exploration of the Direct Biological Targets of Molecular Hydrogen
- Prospects of Hydrogen Medicine Based on Its Protective Effects on Mitochondrial Function
- Molecular Hydrogen: A New Treatment Strategy of Mitochondrial Disorders
- Autonomic Cardiac Regulation in Response to Exercise and Molecular Hydrogen Administration in Well-Trained Athletes
- The Clinical Use of Hydrogen as a Medical Treatment
- Homeostatic and Endocrine Response Underlying Protective Effects by Molecular Hydrogen
- Radiation-Induced Heart Disease: Potential Role for Molecular Hydrogen
- Short-Lasting Supplementation with Molecular Hydrogen and Vitamin E: Effects on Connexin-43 in Rat Heart
- Molecular Hydrogen: A New Protective Tool Against Radiation-Induced Toxicity
- Role of Matrix Metalloproteinases in the Effects of Molecular Hydrogen
- Perioperative Mitigation of Oxidative Stress with Molecular Hydrogen During Simulated Heart Transplantation
- Application of Hydrogen in Hemodialysis: Emphasis on Quantification of Dissolved H2
- Hydrogen as a Potential Therapeutic Approach in the Treatment of Cancer: From Bench to Bedside
- The Role of Molecular Hydrogen in Overcoming Aging-Related Diseases
- Dihydrogen and Hepatic Function: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
- Hydrogen-Rich Water as a Modulator of Gut Microbiota in Inflammatory Bowel Disease
- Effects of Molecular Hydrogen in Metabolic and Non-Communicable Diseases
- Consumption of Hydrogen-Treated Foods and Potential Nutritional Effects
- Differential Effects of Carbohydrates on Hydrogen and Methane Production in Animals
- Natural Biomolecules, Plant Extracts, and Molecular Hydrogen in Male Infertility Management
- Comparison of Free-Radical Scavenging Activity of Various Sources of Molecular Hydrogen
- Development of a Preclinical Tool for Measuring Transdermal Hydrogen Transfer
- Intraosseous Administration of Molecular Hydrogen: From Molecular Effects to Tissue Regeneration
- Nanomaterials and Nanomedicine in Molecular Hydrogen Therapy
- The Emergence, Development, and Future Directions of Hydrogen Medicine and Biology
Molecular Hydrogen in Health and Disease is an overview volume on hydrogen biology and medicine: from mechanistic hypotheses to organ-system applications and delivery/measurement methodologies. We will analyze individual chapters in subsequent publications, examining the claims made, the models used, the limitations of the data, and areas requiring further research.
