This blog post is intended to provide information on a scientific study regarding the potential benefits of hydrogen in treating osteoarthritis. The information in this post is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
Introduction: Osteoarthritis (OA) is a common joint disorder that affects millions of people worldwide. It is characterized by the gradual deterioration of cartilage, the tissue that cushions the ends of bones in a joint. Inflammation is known to play a significant role in the development and progression of OA. In recent years, hydrogen has emerged as a potential therapeutic agent in treating various inflammatory conditions. However, the bioavailability of directly administered hydrogen gas is typically poor. In this study, researchers propose a local delivery system that can provide a high therapeutic concentration of gaseous hydrogen at inflamed tissues in OA patients.
The Study: The delivery system proposed in the study is made up of poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) microparticles that contain magnesium powder (Mg@PLGA MPs). These microparticles were intra-muscularly injected close to the OA knee in a mouse model. The scientists found that the Mg@PLGA MPs acted as an in situ depot that could evolve gaseous hydrogen continuously, mediated by the cycle of passivation/activation of magnesium in body fluids, at a concentration that exceeds its therapeutic threshold. The analytical data obtained in the biochemical and histological studies indicate that the proposed Mg@PLGA MPs can effectively mitigate tissue inflammation and prevent cartilage destruction, arresting the progression of OA changes.
The Results: The results of the study showed that hydrogen supplementation through the use of magnesium passivation/activation cycle in the form of Mg@PLGA MPs was able to effectively mitigate tissue inflammation and prevent cartilage destruction in a mouse model of osteoarthritis. The researchers suggest that this delivery system could be a promising approach for the treatment of OA in the clinical setting.
Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that hydrogen supplementation through the use of Mg@PLGA MPs can be an effective treatment for osteoarthritis. The magnesium passivation/activation cycle allows for a high therapeutic concentration of gaseous hydrogen to be delivered to inflamed tissues, effectively mitigating tissue inflammation and preventing cartilage destruction. While further research is needed to confirm these findings in human trials, this study provides a promising new approach for the treatment of OA.
Study: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29923670/
Wan, W.L., et al., An In Situ Depot for Continuous Evolution of Gaseous H2 Mediated by a Magnesium Passivation/Activation Cycle for Treating Osteoarthritis. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl, 2018.
