HYDROGEN is the most abundant element in the universe, makes up a good chunk of the water we drink, and is now apparently being sold in Malaysia as something you should breathe in to cure your heart disease.
Videos have been circulating on social media promoting hydrogen inhalers as a remedy for serious conditions including heart disease, diabetes and high blood pressure, with sellers targeting older Malaysians with high-pressure sales tactics.
But will inhaling hydrogen actually improve your health?
Verdict:
FALSE
The Health Ministry has warned the public in a statement on X that claims about the health benefits of hydrogen inhalers are unproven.
The ministry noted that hydrogen inhaler devices have not been approved by the Medical Device Authority (MDA), and that all medical devices sold or used in Malaysia must be registered under the Medical Device Act 2012.
Selling, distributing or advertising unregistered devices is an offence under Malaysian law and may result in enforcement action.
The scientific evidence does not support the claims being made by sellers of these devices.
A 2023 systematic review published in the journal Molecules, which examined clinical studies on hydrogen therapy across multiple disease areas, found that the body of human evidence remains limited, with most trials involving small numbers of participants and follow-up periods too brief to draw meaningful conclusions.
A large multicentre randomised controlled trial published in The Lancet, known as the HYBRID II trial, tested hydrogen inhalation on patients after cardiac arrest and found no significant benefit over a placebo.
No regulatory authority in Malaysia has approved hydrogen inhalation as a treatment for any medical condition, and no major international health body recognises it as an established therapy for heart disease, diabetes or high blood pressure.
The Health Ministry urged the public to check the registration status of any medical device on the MDA's official website before purchasing.
Complaints about the sale of unregistered devices or misleading advertisements can be lodged with the Health Ministry or the MDA.
"Members of the public are urged to remain vigilant and seek advice from registered medical practitioners on health matters," said the Health Ministry.
Anyone tempted by a salesperson promising miracles through a breathing machine is better served making an appointment with their doctor instead.
Sources:
1. https://x.com/KKMPutrajaya/
2. https://www.mdpi.com/1420-
3. https://www.thelancet.com/
