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Molecular hydrogen potentiates beneficial anti-infarct effect of hypoxic postconditioning in isolated rat hearts: a novel cardioprotective intervention

Zálešák M, Kura B, Graban J, Farkašová V, Slezák J, Ravingerová T. · Can J Physiol Pharmacol. 2017;95(8):888–893.

PreclinicalOther formsPublished 2017
Study record, not medical adviceThis page reports one source and Hydrogenology’s source-text extraction. It does not establish that molecular hydrogen is effective, safe or appropriate for any person. Human, animal and laboratory evidence must not be treated as equivalent.
Source and classification

What kind of evidence is this?

Evidence stream

Preclinical

Reported design

Randomized isolated-organ study

Research topic

Cardiovascular and circulatory health

Administration classification

Other forms

Study result signal

Positive combined-intervention preclinical signal.

Outcome type

Isolated-organ injury and physiological outcomes.

Reported in the source

Methods at a glance

Population or model

Isolated Langendorff-perfused rat hearts.

Sample

Three groups with eight to ten hearts per group.

Duration

30 minutes ischemia and 120 minutes reperfusion.

Intervention

Hydrogen-saturated Krebs-Henseleit buffer during hypoxic postconditioning.

Hydrogen form

H₂ dissolved in perfusion buffer.

H₂ specification

At least 0.3 mmol/L dissolved H₂.

H₂ flow

Not applicable.

O₂ delivered with H₂

Hypoxic postconditioning was part of both active protocols.

Comparator

Ischemia/reperfusion control and hypoxic postconditioning without H₂.

Reported, not endorsed

Outcomes and reported result

Outcomes measured

Infarct size and post-ischemic cardiac function.

Reported result

The H₂-enhanced hypoxic-postconditioning group had a smaller infarct and selected functional differences versus controls.

Results-extraction completeness

The full article methods, intervention, outcomes, positive and null findings, funding and conflict statements were checked.

A reported association, difference or mechanism is not automatically a clinical benefit. Null findings, outcome type, study design and precision all matter.

Interpretation limits

Cautions and applicability

Design and reporting cautions

No H₂-only arm; the contribution of H₂ is evaluated only as an addition to hypoxic postconditioning.

Applies directly to

Isolated rat hearts under the reported perfusion protocol.

Preliminary appraisal framework

SYRCLE animal-study tool — preliminary

Preliminary risk-of-bias status

Some concerns

Appraisal rationale

Randomization was reported, but small groups and unclear allocation concealment and assessor blinding remain concerns.

Appraisal domains

Sequence generation checked where reported · Allocation concealment generally unclear · Personnel blinding generally unclear · Outcome-assessor blinding generally unclear · No prospectively registered analysis plan identified

No single-study GRADE certainty rating is assigned. Certainty is assessed by important outcome across a complete eligible evidence set, not by attaching a final grade to one source.

Provenance

Sources and record status

Identifiers

PMID: 28350967 · DOI: 10.1139/cjpp-2016-0693

Publisher access

A free publisher or repository full article was checked.

Extraction basis

Publisher or repository full article and bibliographic record; checked 10 August 2026.

Record revision

2026-08-10

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