Hydrogen therapy may be a promising, safe and effective treatment for diabetic erectile dysfunction: a hypothesis

Abstract

Inhalation of hydrogen gas has been proven to be an effective treatment for ischemiareperfusion injury by selectively reducing hydroxyl and peroxynitrite radicals. There has been considerable evidence of hydrogen’s protective effect against diseases related to oxidative injury, such as the ischemia-reperfusion injury of the brain, liver and heart. More and more studies suggest that radical oxygen species (ROS) play an important role in the development of diabetic erectile dysfunction (ED) and antioxidants can markedly decrease the production of ROS and improve the erectile function. We hypothesize that hydrogen therapy may be a promising, safe and effective treatment for diabetic ED by reducing the production of ROS.