Systemic molecular hydrogen exposure is governed by pulmonary clearance: insights from an arterioarterial shunt approach
This study establishes a quantitative framework for hydrogen (H 2 ) pharmacokinetics, demonstrating that inhalation is the only way to achieve rapid and homogeneous systemic exposure, whereas hydrogen-rich water delivers H 2 only to downstream organs. Using complementary physiological, intragastric, and high-dose systemic approaches, we validate a nonsaturable pulmonary clearance model across clinically relevant and supraphysiological concentrations. These findings resolve inconsistencies in the literature and redefine how hydrogen-based therapies should be interpreted and optimized.
Authors
- François R. Boucher (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6897-9321)
- Cordélia Salomez‐Ihl (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0756-7221)
- Stéphane Tanguy (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9532-9145)
- Jean‐Pierre Alcaraz (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5924-9519)
- Théo Ziegelmeyer (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8454-3410)
- Victor Pascal‐Moussellard (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0003-2030-4263)
- Philippe Cinquin (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2700-1447)
Institutions
- Institut polytechnique de Grenoble (FR)
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (FR)
- Inserm (FR)
- Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Grenoble (FR)
- VetAgro Sup (FR)
- Translational Innovation in Medicine and Complexity (FR)
- Université Grenoble Alpes (FR)
Publication Details
- Journal
- American Journal of Physiology-Heart and Circulatory Physiology
- Published
- 2026-10-14
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1152/ajpheart.00421.2026
- Primary Topic
- Hydrogen's biological and therapeutic effects
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00