Hydrogen, Inflammation and Pain

The cells that are repeatedly exposed to inflammatory mediators will have the genes that code for inflammatory response proteins switched on, and thus be in a constant state of inflammation. This leads to diseases and health conditions that are strongly linked to inflammation, including asthma and cardiovascular diseases. Some of the molecules in the body that can instigate a change in gene expression are: Nf-kB, TNFa, and reactive nitrogen species such as nitric oxide and peroxynitrite.

Hydrogen indirectly affects gene expression through its actions to modulate molecules that have a direct epigenetic effect, Molecular Hydrogen can:

• · Impede release of NF-kB
• · Reduce TNFa
• · Reduce excess nitric oxide
• · Scavenge peroxynitrite

Molecular hydrogen has been shown to be an anti-inflammatory in acute conditions, but it is also a potential epigenetic modifying agent for genes that code for chronic pain and inflammation.