Hydrogen a Critical Element in Cancer Care
Hydrogen is the most prevalent element in the universe and the deciding factor in life. Hydrogen exists on Earth in many compounds, such as water, the most abundant mixture on Earth. It also exists in almost all organic compounds, making up about 61 percent of all the atoms in the human body.
Hydrogen is an intense study of what it is, what it does, and the forms it can become.
What's the difference between H, H2, H+, H-, and OH- they are all classed as Hydrogen, but in entirely different states doing many other things. The hydrogen atom, stripped of its electron, the symbol H+, also called a hydron, is still labeled Hydrogen. The hydrated form of the hydrogen cation, the hydronium (hydroxonium) ion H3O+ (aq), is a crucial object of Arrhenius' definition of acid.
The single Hydrogen ion is created when a hydrogen atom loses or gains an electron. Due to its extremely high charge density of approximately 2×1010 times that of a sodium ion, the bare hydrogen ion cannot exist freely in solution as it readily hydrates, i.e., bonds quickly. IUPAC recommends the hydrogen ion as a general term for all ions of Hydrogen and its isotopes. Depending on the charge of the ion, two different classes can be distinguished: positively charged ions and negatively charged ions.
The dihydrogen cation or molecular hydrogen ion is a cation (positive ion) with the formula H2+. It consists of two hydrogen nuclei (protons) sharing a single electron. It is the simplest molecular ion. The ion can be formed from the ionization of a neutral hydrogen molecule H2. It is commonly formed in molecular clouds in space, by the action of cosmic rays.
The dihydrogen cation is of great historical and theoretical interest because, having only one electron, the equations of quantum mechanics that describe its structure can be solved in a relatively straightforward way. The first such solution was derived by Ø. Burrau in 1927, just one year after the wave theory of quantum mechanics was published.
Cationic Hydrogen is different from the molecule hydrogen. The H+ ion is just a proton, not an atom, and cannot exist by itself; it will form the fundamental H3O+
ion with water and react with basically any molecule it contacts. If kept in an inert environment with no other molecules available, it will form Hydrogen plasma, a purple substance.
Hydrogen can usually be found in its dimer form H2, a colorless gas which is two protons bound by two s-electrons that form a covalent pair. It is not a cation.
Types of Hydrogen:
H = Atomic Hydrogen
Atomic Hydrogen is number 1 on the Periodic Table of Elements. It consists of one proton and one unpaired electron, which means that it is a free radical.
However, an atom of Hydrogen rarely exists on its own because its unpaired electron eagerly seeks to join up with another electron.
The molecular form of Hydrogen is more common.
H2 = Molecular Hydrogen
H2 is a gas that forms when two hydrogen atoms bond together and become a hydrogen molecule. H2 is also called molecular Hydrogen. It consists of two protons and two electrons. Consequently, it is the most common form of Hydrogen because it is stable with a neutral charge. H2 is not a free radical. It is the antioxidant in 'hydrogen-rich' water.
H2 is the smallest molecule in the universe. That means it can go where nothing else can …including into your mitochondria which are the powerhouses of your cells. Hydrogen gas cannot be kept in plastic because it will pass right through the walls of the container.
H+ = Proton
When the Hydrogen atom loses an electron, all that is left is a proton. It becomes the positively charged hydrogen ion known as H+. This is the form of Hydrogen that produces the ATP enzyme that powers our cells and mitochondria.
The H+ hydrogen ion is the basis of the pH scale.
H– = Hydride
Hydride is a hydrogen atom that has an extra electron. This means that it is a negatively charged ion, or anion. That is why Hydride ion (H-) has the minus sign distinguishing it from a regular Hydrogen atom (H). The two dots after the H means that this ion has two electrons instead of just one. The extra electron means that H- is not a free radical however, it is not stable because this form of Hydrogen is a very strong base (extremely alkaline) that reacts with water to produce hydroxide (OH– and molecular Hydrogen (H2).
H– + H2O –> H2O + OH–
Hydride (H- ) also reacts with metals to form chemical compounds which are reducing agents.
OH- = Hydroxide ion
Hydroxide (H-) is also known as the hydroxyl ion. When water dissociates or comes apart into its component parts it forms OH- (hydroxide ions) and H3O+ (hydronium ions).
2H2O ⇆ OH– and H3O+
This reaction is reversible. The hydroxide ion also reacts with the hydronium ion (H3O+) to become two water molecules.
The Hydroxide ion (OH- ) is a base (alkaline). The Hydroxide ion is not a free radical or an antioxidant. Dissolved molecular hydrogen gas (H2) is the antioxidant in 'hydrogen-rich' water.
Hydroxide (OH-) is sometimes confused with the Hydroxyl radical (OH•). The dot to the upper right of the OH indicates an unpaired electron which means that Hydroxyl is a free radical, actually one of the most reactive oxygen radicals. Hydroxide and Hydroxyl are two entirely different species.
H3O+ = Hydronium ion
A water molecule (H20) plus a hydrogen ion (H+) becomes a hydronium ion (H3O+). The H+ ion is a lone proton with a powerful charge. It does not exist on its own in an aqueous solution because it is immediately attracted to the unshared electrons in the oxygen atom of H2O. The result is Hydronium (H3O+). This process is reversible. Two water molecules can disassociate to form hydronium plus hydroxide.
2H2O ⇆ OH– and H3O+
Experiments indicate that the proton (H+) is very promiscuous. It changes from one H2O partner to another many times per second, creating a new H3O+ ion as it moves.
pH = Potential of Hydrogen
pH stands for the potential of Hydrogen and is a measurement of the concentration of hydrogen ions (H+) in a solution. This is because water breaks down (dissociates) into protons (H+) and hydroxides (OH-). This reaction is reversible.
H2O ⇆ H+ and OH-
2H2O ⇆ OH- and H3O+
pH indicates whether water is acidic, neutral, or alkaline. More H+ = more acidic. Less H+ = more alkaline.
Because H+ immediately associates with H2O to form H3O+ (Hydronium), pH can also measure the concentration of H3O+ in a solution.
The pH scale is logarithmic. Increasing by 1 on the pH scale results in a 10 times decrease in the hydronium ion concentration; rising by 3 on the pH scale results in a 1,000 times lower hydronium ion concentration.
Hydrogen Health Facts
Water is the essential resource for all life on Earth, it contains two hydrogen atoms bonded together with one oxygen atom and is absorbed by the body's cells.
A critical hydrogen function in the human body is to keep you hydrated. Water transports nutrients to the cells, making the immune system strong and keeping everything lubricated.
We all know that Hydrogen is found in sugar, proteins, and fats. But what you might not have learned is the other important role it plays as a building block for the human diet.
Hydrogen helps produce energy in the body in the form of ATP (Adenosine triphosphate). We consume energy-giving food like carbohydrates which are made up of carbon, Hydrogen, and oxygen. Enzymes present in our body help in the digestion of food and break down complex food into simpler ones.
Hydrogen is responsible for slowing down the aging process of the body. Aging is caused by the substances present in the body called free radicals. Hydrogen is stored in the tissues of our body which protects us from the damage that free radicals do.
Molecular Hydrogen provides medical help to many people as it elevates oral medicine to the level of intravenous medication because of quick absorption and dispersion deep into the cells.
Molecular Hydrogen is an ideal antioxidant molecule for oxidative stress in the mitochondria due to its small size. Therefore, drinking Hydrogen dissolved water improves the pathology of mitochondrial disorders, and also it stimulates energy metabolism as measured by oxygen consumption and carbon dioxide production.
Related Publications
Application of Molecular Hydrogen as a Novel Antioxidant in Sports Science
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32015786/
H2 may be a potential alternative strategy for conventional exogenous antioxidant interventions in sports science. The purpose of this review is to provide evidence regarding the effects of H2
intake on changes in physiological and biochemical parameters, centering on exercise-induced oxidative stress, for each intake method. Furthermore, this review highlights possible future directions in this area of research.
Molecular Hydrogen: a preventive and therapeutic medical gas for various diseases
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5731988/
Since the 2007 discovery that molecular Hydrogen (H2) has particular antioxidant properties, multiple studies have shown that H2 has beneficial effects in diverse animal models and human disease. This review discusses H2
biological effects and potential mechanisms of action in various diseases, including metabolic syndrome, organ injury, and cancer; describes effective H2 delivery approaches; and summarizes recent progress toward H2 applications in human medicine. We also discuss the remaining questions in H2 therapy and conclude with an appeal for a greater role for H2 in the prevention and treatment of human ailments that are currently major global health burdens. This review makes a case for supporting hydrogen medicine in human disease prevention and therapy.
Molecular Hydrogen: current knowledge on mechanism in alleviating free radical damage and diseases
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31738389/
Ever since molecular Hydrogen was first reported as a hydroxyl radical scavenger in 2007, the beneficial effect of Hydrogen has been documented in more than 170 disease models and human diseases including ischemia/reperfusion injury, metabolic syndrome, inflammation, and cancer. All these pathological damages are concomitant with the overproduction of reactive oxygen species (ROS) where molecular Hydrogen has been widely demonstrated as a selective antioxidant. Although it is difficult to construe the molecular mechanism of Hydrogen's biomedical effect, an increasing number of studies have been helping us draw the picture clearer with days passing by. In this review, we summarized the current knowledge on systemic and cellular modulation by hydrogen treatment. We discussed the antioxidative, anti-inflammatory, and anti-apoptosis effects of Hydrogen, as well as its protection of mitochondria and the endoplasmic reticulum, regulation of intracellular signaling pathways, and balancing of the immune cell subtypes.
Hydrogen Gas in Cancer Treatment
https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fonc.2019.00696/full
Hydrogen gas (formula: H2
) emerges as another GSM that possesses multiple bioactivities, including anti-inflammation, anti-reactive oxygen species, and anti-cancer. In addition, growing evidence has shown that hydrogen gas can either alleviate the side effects caused by conventional chemotherapeutics or suppress the growth of cancer cells and xenograft tumors, suggesting its broad potent application in clinical therapy.
Hydrogen Ion Dynamics of Cancer and a New Molecular, Biochemical, and Metabolic Approach to the Etiopathogenesis and Treatment of Brain Malignancies
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31480530/
No real breakthrough has been hitherto achieved with this tumor with an ominous prognosis and very short survival. Glioblastomas, being highly glycolytic malignancies are strongly pH-dependent and driven by the sodium hydrogen exchanger 1 (NHE1) and other proton (H+) transporters. Therefore, this is one of those pathologies where the lessons recently learned from the new pH-centered anticancer paradigm may soon bring a promising change to treatment. This contribution will discuss how the pH-centric molecular, biochemical, and metabolic perspective may introduce some urgently needed and integral novel treatments. Such a prospective therapeutic approach for malignant brain tumors is developed here, either to be used alone or in combination with more standard therapies.
Molecular Hydrogen as a Potential Clinically Applicable Radioprotective Agent
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33925430/
Although ionizing radiation (radiation) is commonly used for medical diagnosis and cancer treatment, radiation-induced damage cannot be avoided. Such damages can be classified into direct and indirect damages, caused by the direct absorption of radiation energy into DNA and by free radicals, such as hydroxyl radicals (•OH), generated in the process of water radiolysis. More specifically, radiation damage concerns not only direct DNA damage but also secondary damages to non-DNA targets, because low-dose radiation damage is mainly caused by these indirect effects. Molecular Hydrogen (H2
) has the potential to be a radioprotective agent because it can selectively scavenge •OH, a reactive oxygen species with strong oxidizing power. Animal experiments and clinical trials have reported that H2
exhibits a highly safe radioprotective effect. This paper reviews previously reported radioprotective effects of H2
and discusses the mechanisms of H2
, not only as an antioxidant, but also in intracellular responses including anti-inflammation, anti-apoptosis, and the regulation of gene expression. In doing so, we demonstrate the prospects of H2
as a novel and clinically applicable radioprotective agent.
Molecular Hydrogen as a Novel Antitumor Agent: Possible Mechanisms Underlying Gene Expression
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34445428/
While many antitumor drugs have yielded unsatisfactory therapeutic results, drugs are one of the most prevalent therapeutic measures for the treatment of cancer. The development of cancer largely results from mutations in nuclear DNA, as well as from those in mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA). Molecular Hydrogen (H2
), an inert molecule, can scavenge hydroxyl radicals (·OH), which are known to be the strongest oxidizing reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the body that causes these DNA mutations. It has been reported that H2
has no side effects, unlike conventional antitumor drugs, and that it is effective against many diseases caused by oxidative stress and chronic inflammation. Recently, there has been an increasing number of papers on the efficacy of H2
against cancer and its effects in mitigating the side effects of cancer treatment. In this review, we demonstrate the efficacy and safety of H2
as a novel antitumor agent and show that its mechanisms may not only involve the direct scavenging of ·OH, but also other indirect biological defense mechanisms via the regulation of gene expression.
Hydrogen Bond Strength-Mediated Self-Assembly of Supramolecular Nanogels for Selective and Effective Cancer Treatment
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34506111/
This study provides a significant contribution to the development of multiple hydrogen-bonded supramolecular nanocarrier systems by demonstrating that controlling the hydrogen bond strength within supramolecular polymers represents a crucial factor in tailoring the drug delivery performance and enhances the effectiveness of cancer therapy.
Results indicated that increasing the strength of hydrogen bonds in nanogels plays a key role in enhancing drugs’ selective cellular uptake and cytotoxicity and the subsequent induction of apoptosis in cancer cells.
Hydrogen Bond Strength-Mediated Self-Assembly of Supramolecular Nanogels for Selective and Effective Cancer Treatment
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34506111/
This study provides a significant contribution to the development of multiple hydrogen-bonded supramolecular nanocarrier systems by demonstrating that controlling the hydrogen bond strength within supramolecular polymers represents a crucial factor in tailoring the drug delivery performance and enhances the effectiveness of cancer therapy.
Results indicated that increasing the strength of hydrogen bonds in nanogels plays a key role in enhancing drugs’ selective cellular uptake and cytotoxicity and the subsequent induction of apoptosis in cancer cells.
Related Articles
Preclinical Study PK & Oxidative Stress Reduction
In a preclinical study completed in November of 2023 by Dr. José Trinidad Pérez Urizar, Ph.D. a professor in the Biomedical Sciences Department of the University of San Luis Potosí. The preclinical study’s objective was to characterize the systemic ...
ION-ZCM1 is Classified as a Small Molecule
The Ion Gel ZCM-25® has a unique aqueous ligand transport system (Hexa-Aqua), which gives it a unique ability to enter the ions into the cell. Ion Gel ZCM-25® has been proven to support the wound healing process. Its active ingredient with high ...
Phase I study to determine the topical tolerability of Ion Gel ZCM-25®.
To evaluate the tolerability of the product Ion Gel ZCM-25®, measured as the degree of irritability: edema and/or erythema, during 14 days of administration in healthy subjects. Methods. Twenty research subjects of both sexes were recruited, a dose ...
Dermal Irritability Single High Dose Study of Ion Gel ZCM-25® on New Zealand Male Rabbits
Abstract Study Title: Dermal Irritability Single High Dose Study of Ion Gel ZCM-25® on New Zealand Male Rabbits Author: UNAM - Preclinical Research Unit - UNIPREC - Dr. Azucena Ibeth Carballo Villalobos (Principal Investigator) (2019). Methods: A ...
Ion Gel ZCM-25® Phase 1 Clinical Study on Humans
Abstract In the present Ion Gel ZCM-25® Phase 1 Clinical Study on Humans, the tolerability of the Class II Medical Device, Ion Gel ZCM-25® was evaluated after daily administration for 14 days, the dose of 0.5mL on the intact skin of the left arm of ...