Gut microbiota as a potential mediator of the disease-ameliorating effects of molecular hydrogen: mechanisms and therapeutic perspectives
- 1Central Laboratory, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Shandong First Medical University
Abstract
Molecular hydrogen (H ₂ ) has emerged as a promising bioactive gas with well-documented antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and cytoprotective properties, and its therapeutic potential for a range of human diseases has been increasingly recognized. Accumulating evidence suggests that the gut microbiota (GM) may contribute to some of the biological effects of H ₂ . The GM serves as both a key site for endogenous H ₂ production and consumption, and a potential site of interaction with exogenous H ₂ supplementation, with possible implications for intestinal microecological homeostasis. This narrative review critically summarizes current evidence on the bidirectional relationship between H ₂ and the GM, focusing on microbial H ₂ production and consumption, the potential role of H ₂ in maintaining gut microbial homeostasis, and the impact of exogenous H ₂ supplementation on intestinal microecology. The potential therapeutic relevance of H ₂ -associated GM modulation is further discussed in metabolic diseases, gastrointestinal disorders, and neurodegenerative diseases. Proposed mechanisms include regulation of microbial composition, reinforcement of intestinal barrier integrity, suppression of inflammation and oxidative stress, modulation of microbial metabolites, and gut-organ axis signaling. Collectively, current evidence supports that H ₂ may influence the GM ecosystem. However, most supporting data remains preclinical, and whether GM alterations causally mediate the biological or therapeutic effects of H ₂ remains to be established. Elucidating the reciprocal interaction between H ₂ and the GM may provide new mechanistic insight into H ₂ -based interventions and facilitate the development of microbiota-targeted therapeutic strategies for human diseases.
Related
- Dexmedetomidine as a potential neuroprotective agent against Alzheimer’s disease: molecular mechanisms and therapeutic perspectives
- MiR-532 as a Potential Therapeutic Target and Biomarker: Biological Functions, Molecular Mechanisms, and Clinical Perspectives.
- Gut Microbiota-Driven Neuroimmune Crosstalk in Ulcerative Colitis: From Mechanisms to Therapeutic Implications
- Targeting the NLRP3 inflammasome in rheumatoid arthritis fibroblast-like synoviocytes: pathogenic mechanisms, therapeutic strategies, and translational perspectives
- The Role of Herbal Medicines in Cognitive Impairment: A Narrative Review of Neuroprotective Mechanisms and Therapeutic Perspectives
BibTeX
@article{li2026microbiota,
title = {{Gut microbiota as a potential mediator of the disease-ameliorating effects of molecular hydrogen: mechanisms and therapeutic perspectives}},
author = {Mengnan Li and Xiangrui Kong and Fanxianzi Meng and Yantong Liu and Shucun Qin and Boyan Liu and Junli Xue},
journal = {Frontiers in Pharmacology},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.3389/fphar.2026.1923673},
url = {https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphar.2026.1923673/full},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Gut microbiota as a potential mediator of the disease-ameliorating effects of molecular hydrogen: mechanisms and therapeutic perspectives
AU - Mengnan Li
AU - Xiangrui Kong
AU - Fanxianzi Meng
AU - Yantong Liu
AU - Shucun Qin
AU - Boyan Liu
AU - Junli Xue
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/23
JO - Frontiers in Pharmacology
DO - 10.3389/fphar.2026.1923673
UR - https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphar.2026.1923673/full
AB - Molecular hydrogen (H ₂ ) has emerged as a promising bioactive gas with well-documented antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and cytoprotective properties, and its therapeutic potential for a range of human diseases has been increasingly recognized. Accumulating evidence suggests that the gut microbiota (GM) may contribute to some of the biological effects of H ₂ . The GM serves as both a key site for endogenous H ₂ production and consumption, and a potential site of interaction with exogenous H ₂ supplementation, with possible implications for intestinal microecological homeostasis. This narrative review critically summarizes current evidence on the bidirectional relationship between H ₂ and the GM, focusing on microbial H ₂ production and consumption, the potential role of H ₂ in maintaining gut microbial homeostasis, and the impact of exogenous H ₂ supplementation on intestinal microecology. The potential therapeutic relevance of H ₂ -associated GM modulation is further discussed in metabolic diseases, gastrointestinal disorders, and neurodegenerative diseases. Proposed mechanisms include regulation of microbial composition, reinforcement of intestinal barrier integrity, suppression of inflammation and oxidative stress, modulation of microbial metabolites, and gut-organ axis signaling. Collectively, current evidence supports that H ₂ may influence the GM ecosystem. However, most supporting data remains preclinical, and whether GM alterations causally mediate the biological or therapeutic effects of H ₂ remains to be established. Elucidating the reciprocal interaction between H ₂ and the GM may provide new mechanistic insight into H ₂ -based interventions and facilitate the development of microbiota-targeted therapeutic strategies for human diseases.
SN - 1663-9812
ER -