水素による放射能防御の論文が権威ある米国生理学会誌に発表されました（7月15日）。 単に効果を示しただけでなくメカニズムまで踏み込んでいます。以下に論文の要約（英文）を掲載します。
Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol. 2011 Jul 15. [Epub ahead of print]
Hydrogen Therapy Attenuates Irradiation-induced Lung Damage by Reducing Oxidative Stress. Terasaki Y, Ohsawa I, Terasaki M, Takahashi M, Kunugi S, Dedong K, Urushiyama H, Amenomori S, Kaneko-Togashi M, Kuwahara N, Ishikawa A, Kamimura N, Ohta S, Fukuda Y.
Abstract Molecular hydrogen (H(2)) is an efficient antioxidant that diffuses rapidly across cell membranes, reduces reactive oxygen species (ROS) such as hydroxyl radicals and peroxynitrite, and suppresses oxidative stress-induced injury in several organs. ROS have been implicated in radiation-induced damage to lungs. Because prompt elimination of irradiation-induced ROS should protect lung tissue from damaging effects of irradiation, we investigated the possibility that H(2) could serve as a radioprotector in the lung. Cells of the human lung epithelial cell line A549 received 10 Gy irradiation with or without H(2) treatment via H(2)-rich PBS or medium. We studied the possible radioprotective effects of H(2) by analyzing ROS and cell damage. Also, C57BL/6J female mice received 15 Gy irradiation to the thorax. Treatment groups inhaled 3% H(2) gas and drank H(2)-enriched water. We evaluated acute and late irradiation lung damage after H(2) treatment. H(2) reduced the amount of irradiation-induced ROS in A549 cells, as shown by electron spin resonance and fluorescent indicator signals. H(2) also reduced cell damage, measured as levels of oxidative stress and apoptotic markers, and improved cell viability. Within 1 week after whole-thorax irradiation, immunohistochemistry and immunoblotting showed that H(2) treatment reduced oxidative stress and apoptosis, measures of acute damage, in the lungs of mice. At 5 mo after irradiation, chest computed tomography, Ashcroft scores, and type III collagen deposition demonstrated that H(2) treatment reduced lung fibrosis (late damage). This study thus demonstrated that H(2) treatment is valuable for protection against irradiation lung damage with no known toxicity.
水素医学への発展（2011.8.4）
私たちが水素医学の論文を世界の権威であるNature Medicineに、はじめて発表してから４年がすぎました。この間に世界から100以上の論文が発表され、水素の身体への効果は揺るぎないものとなりました。しかも、当初私たちが考えていたよりも、はるかに多方面への効果が期待されるようになりました。 残念ながら、私たちの研究に便乗して実際は水素が発生しないのに発生するかのように謳っている商品も見受けられます。私たちは、キチンとした科学的研究と臨床試験によって、水素を私たちの健康・美容に役立て、病気の予防と治療に使えるように貢献します。
最近、高名な学術誌に今までの研究をまとめた英文総説を２報発表しました。
Recent Progress Toward Hydrogen Medicine: Potential of Molecular Hydrogen for Preventive and Therapeutic Applications. Ohta S. Curr Pharm Des. 2011 Jul 7. [Epub ahead of print]
Molecular hydrogen is a novel antioxidant to efficiently reduce oxidative stress with potential for the improvement of mitochondrial diseases. Ohta S. Biochim Biophys Acta. 2011 May 20. [Epub ahead of print]
米国でも水素の効果を大きく報道しています。
http://www.eurekalert.org/pubnews.php?start=100
http://www.thoracic.org/media/press-releases/conference/articles/2011/
Inhaling_Hydrogen_%20May_Help_Reduce_Lung_Damage.pdf
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/05/110516141546.htm
http://medicalxpress.com/news/2011-05-inhaling-hydrogen-lung-critically-ill.html