Therapeutic efficacy of infused molecular hydrogen in saline on rheumatoid arthritis: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled pilot study.

Abstract

The aim of this study was to demonstrate the safety and efficacy of H2-saline infusion for treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). We conducted a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled investigation of the infusion of 1 ppm H2-dissolved saline (H2-saline) in 24 RA patients. Patients were randomized 1:1 to receive 500 ml of either H2-saline or placebo-saline, which was drop infused intravenously (DIV) daily for 5 days. The disease activity score in 28 joints (DAS28) was measured at baseline, immediately post infusion, and after 4 weeks. Therapeutic effects of H2-saline on joint inflammation were estimated by measuring serum biomarkers for RA, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNFα), interleukin-6 (IL-6), matrix metalloproteinase-3 (MMP-3), and urinary 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine (8-OHdG). In the H2-infused group, average DAS28 decreased from 5.18 ± 1.16 to 4.02 ± 1.25 immediately post infusion and reached 3.74 ± 1.22 after 4 weeks. No significant decrease in DAS28 was observed in the placebo group throughout the study. IL-6 levels in the H2 group significantly decreased in 4 weeks by 37.3 ± 62.0% compared to baseline, whereas it increased by 33.6 ± 34.4% in the placebo group. TNFα levels did not change remarkably in the H2 or placebo groups in 4 weeks post-infusion compared to baseline. The relative ratio of 8-OHdG in the H2 group also significantly decreased by 4.7%. After 4 weeks, MMP3 was significantly reduced by 19.2% ± 24.6% in the H2 group, and increased by 16.9% ± 50.2% in the placebo group. Drop infusion of H2 safely and effectively reduced RA disease activity.

• Authors: Toru Ishibashi, Bunpei Sato, Shinji Shibata, Takaaki Sakai, Yuichi Hara, Yuji Naritomi, Samon Koyanagi, Hiroshi Hara, Tetsuhiko Nagao
• Journal: International immunopharmacology (Int Immunopharmacol) Vol. 21 Issue 2 Pg. 468-73 (Aug 2014) ISSN: 1878-1705 [Electronic] Netherlands
• PMID: 24929023 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Randomized Controlled Trial)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2014. Published by Elsevier B.V.

Chemical References

• Interleukin-6
• Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha
• Sodium Chloride
• Hydrogen
• 8-Hydroxy-2'-Deoxyguanosine
• Matrix Metalloproteinase 3
• Deoxyguanosine

Topics

• 8-Hydroxy-2'-Deoxyguanosine
• Adult
• Aged
• Aged, 80 and over
• Arthritis, Rheumatoid (drug therapy, metabolism, urine)
• Deoxyguanosine (analogs & derivatives, urine)
• Double-Blind Method
• Female
• Humans
• Hydrogen (adverse effects, therapeutic use)
• Inflammation (drug therapy, metabolism, urine)
• Interleukin-6 (metabolism)
• Joints (drug effects, metabolism)
• Male
• Matrix Metalloproteinase 3 (metabolism)
• Middle Aged
• Pilot Projects
• Sodium Chloride (therapeutic use)
• Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha (metabolism)