Molecular Hydrogen as a Potential Adjunctive Therapy to Improve Renal Function and Reduce Fatigue in an Elderly Patient With Chronic Comorbidities
This 2025 case report examined the effects of molecular hydrogen capsule therapy in an 89-year-old woman with multiple chronic conditions including coronary artery disease (CAD), systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), type 2 diabetes complicated by nephropathy, chronic fatigue, and recurrent cellulitis. Researchers investigated whether hydrogen therapy could improve renal function, fatigue, inflammation, and immune regulation.
Prior to hydrogen therapy, the patient experienced:
- elevated serum creatinine indicating impaired kidney function,
- severe chronic fatigue,
- recurrent lower limb edema,
- persistent cellulitis,
- and reduced quality of life despite standard treatment.
After beginning molecular hydrogen capsule therapy in January 2023, researchers observed:
- progressive improvement in renal function,
- declining serum creatinine levels,
- reduced lower limb edema,
- improved wound healing,
- and significant reductions in fatigue severity measured using the Taiwan Brief Fatigue Inventory (BFI-T).
The paper explains that hydrogen’s antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects may help protect kidney tissue by reducing oxidative stress, which is considered a major contributor to chronic kidney disease progression.
Researchers also identified several notable immune-system changes following hydrogen therapy. The study found:
- increased naïve regulatory T cells (Tregs),
- increased CD39-Helios+ regulatory T cells,
- reduced inflammatory CD127+ Tregs,
- and reductions in plasma cells and plasmablasts associated with autoimmune activity.
These findings suggest that molecular hydrogen may help regulate immune balance while reducing excessive inflammatory responses, particularly in autoimmune conditions such as lupus.
The paper includes visual evidence showing improvement in lower limb swelling and stabilization of kidney biomarkers following hydrogen therapy. Figure 2 on page 4 shows a downward trend in serum creatinine levels after treatment began, while Figure 3 illustrates multiple immune-regulatory shifts associated with reduced inflammation.
In everyday language, this case report suggests that molecular hydrogen therapy may help support kidney function, reduce fatigue, improve circulation and swelling, and regulate inflammation in elderly patients with complex chronic illnesses.
The authors conclude that hydrogen therapy may represent a promising adjunctive strategy for reducing oxidative stress, inflammation, immune dysregulation, and fatigue in patients with chronic diseases, while emphasizing that larger clinical studies are still needed.
Download this article from In Vivo (Lin et al 2025):