自2007年发现氢气生物学效应以来，国际上已经发表相关学术论文接近1500篇，在这些论文中，涉及到代谢性疾病，特别是糖尿病和代谢综合征的研究最为突出。
氢气对代谢性疾病改善效应研究的概况。从研究手段上看，有细胞学研究研究损伤分子机制，例如发现氢气可以对抗糖基化产物导致的细胞损伤，氢气可以促进肌肉细胞葡萄糖摄取能力，通过CD表达调节抑制肝脏细胞脂质积聚的。更多是动物实验研究，发现氢气可以对抗动脉硬化，调节脂蛋白代谢，对抗脂肪肝引起的肝硬化以及肝癌的发生，减少药物性肝损伤，对糖尿病视网膜病变的保护作用，对代谢性肾脏损伤的保护作用，糖尿病引起的ED等。临床研究发现氢气水可以对早期糖尿病患者具有明显保护作用，纠正代谢综合征患者的脂代谢紊乱。
氢气对代谢疾病疾病的研究仍有巨大空间。首先，临床研究规模小，目前仍没有超过100例以上的病理报道。其次，研究疾病种类过于单一，目前只停留在代谢综合征改善方面，而对糖尿病引起的多种并发症没有涉及。最后，没有长期效应观察。长期效应是决定该干预措施是否真正有价值的最重要条件，但开展长期干预研究需要医疗机构、社区和研究机构的密切配合。
氢气对代谢性疾病研究的展望。以糖尿病为主的代谢性疾病是可能威胁中国医疗卫生安全的重要问题，已经引起国家和众多学者的关注，但采用切实有效，经济简单的有效预防措施是解决问题的关键。围绕氢气相关研究可以开展的研究有。
一、氢气补充方式研究。1)通过补充肠道菌群调节作用的营养物质，激发体内细菌产氢预防疾病的研究;2)可以直接促进体内产氢的无机物，例如金属镁、氢化金属物质等：3)通过饮用氢气饱和水，作为日常直接补充氢气的有效措施研究;4)通过呼吸氢气、氢气沐浴、氢气局部使用的特殊技术研究。
二、转化医学研究。1)以代谢综合征为主的糖尿病预防措施研究;2)以糖尿病为主的糖尿病改善研究;3)以心脑血管疾病、肝脏肾脏功能障碍、性功能障碍和视网膜疾病等末断糖尿病并发症为主重要器官功能保护研究。
三、分子机制研究。1)围绕糖代谢、脂肪代谢为主的代谢效应研究;2)围绕炎症、氧化损伤和细胞死亡为主的病理效应研究;3)围绕酶活性调节、各类组学、小RNA、长链非转露RNA等寻找氢气分子作用靶点的研究。
1. Ohsawa, Ikuroh, et al. "Consumption of hydrogen water prevents atherosclerosis in apolipoprotein E knockout mice." Biochemical and biophysical research communications 377.4 (2008): 1195-1198.(证明氢气预防动脉硬化)
2. Kamimura, Naomi, et al. "Molecular hydrogen improves obesity and diabetes by inducing hepatic FGF21 and stimulating energy metabolism in db/db mice." Obesity 19.7 (2011): 1396-1403.(氢气的减肥作用)
3. Hashimoto, Michio, et al. "Effects of hydrogen-rich water on abnormalities in a SHR. Cg-Leprcp/NDmcr rat-a metabolic syndrome rat model." Medical gas research 1.1 (2011): 1-6.(氢气可对抗代谢综合征)
4. Sun H Y, Chen L, Zhou W, et al. The protective role of hydrogen-rich saline in experimental liver injury in mice[J]. Journal of hepatology, 2011, 54(3): 471-480.(氢气对多种肝硬化的改善作用)
5. Kawai D, Takaki A, Nakatsuka A, et al. Hydrogen‐rich water prevents progression of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis and accompanying hepatocarcinogenesis in mice[J]. Hepatology, 2012, 56(3): 912-921.(氢气减轻脂肪肝减少原发性肝癌)
6. Song, Guohua, et al. "Hydrogen decreases athero-susceptibility in apolipoprotein B-containing lipoproteins and aorta of apolipoprotein E knockout mice." Atherosclerosis 221.1 (2012): 55-65.(对脂蛋白的影响)
7. Zong, Chuanlong, et al. "Administration of hydrogen-saturated saline decreases plasma low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels and improves high-density lipoprotein function in high-fat diet–fed hamsters." Metabolism 61.6 (2012): 794-800.(对高脂饮食导致的脂肪代谢紊乱)
8. Katakura, Masanori, et al. "Hydrogen-rich water inhibits glucose and alpha, beta-dicarbonyl compound-induced reactive oxygen species production in the SHR. Cg-Leprcp/NDmcr rat kidney." Med Gas Res 2.1 (2012): 18.(代谢性疾病导致的肾脏损伤)
9. Zheng, Hao, and Yong-Sheng Yu. "Chronic hydrogen-rich saline treatment attenuates vascular dysfunction in spontaneous hypertensive rats." Biochemical Pharmacology 83.9 (2012): 1269-1277.(高血压)
10. Yu, Yong-Sheng, and Hao Zheng. "Chronic hydrogen-rich saline treatment reduces oxidative stress and attenuates left ventricular hypertrophy in spontaneous hypertensive rats." Molecular and cellular biochemistry 365.1-2 (2012): 233-242.(高血压)
11. Wang, Q. J., et al. "Therapeutic effects of hydrogen saturated saline on rat diabetic model and insulin resistant model via reduction of oxidative stress." Chin Med J 125 (2012): 1633-1637.(糖尿病氧化应激)
12. Amitani, Haruka, et al. "Hydrogen Improves Glycemic Control in Type1 Diabetic Animal Model by Promoting Glucose Uptake into Skeletal Muscle." PloS one 8.1 (2013): e53913.(促进肌肉细胞葡萄糖摄取)
13. Takaki, Akinobu, Daisuke Kawai, and Kazuhide Yamamoto. "Multiple Hits, Including Oxidative Stress, as Pathogenesis and Treatment Target in Non-Alcoholic Steatohepatitis (NASH)." International journal of molecular sciences 14.10 (2013): 20704-20728.(非酒精性脂肪肝)
14. Wessells, Hunter. "Insights and Interventions in Diabetes Associated Erectile Dysfunction." Journal of Urology, The 190.1 (2013): 15-16.(糖尿病ED)
15. Iio, Akio, et al. "Molecular hydrogen attenuates fatty acid uptake and lipid accumulation through downregulating CD36 expression in HepG2 cells." Medical gas research 3.1 (2013): 6.(减少肝细胞脂积聚)
16. Katakura, Masanori, and Michio Hashimoto. "Antioxidant Renoprotective Effects of Hydrogen-rich Water in the SHR. Cg-Leprcp/NDmcr Rat-a Metabolic Syndrome Rat Model."(代谢综合征肾脏损伤)
17. Ignacio, R. M., et al. "Anti-obesity Effect of Alkaline Reduced Water in High Fat-Fed Obese Mice." Biological & pharmaceutical bulletin 36.7 (2012): 1052-1059.(减肥作用)
18. Jiang, Hong, et al. "Hydrogen-rich medium suppresses the generation of reactive oxygen species, elevates the Bcl-2/Bax ratio and inhibits advanced glycation end product-induced apoptosis." International journal of molecular medicine 31.6 (2013): 1381.(糖基化代谢产物损伤)
19. Koyama, Yukinori, et al. "Effects of oral intake of hydrogen water on liver fibrogenesis in mice." Hepatology Research (2013).(肝硬化)
20. Feng, Yanqing, et al. "Hydrogen-Rich Saline Prevents Early Neurovascular Dysfunction Resulting from Inhibition of Oxidative Stress in STZ-Diabetic Rats." Current eye research 38.3 (2012): 396-404.(糖尿病视网膜病变)
21. Xiao X, Cai J, Xu J, et al. Protective effects of hydrogen saline on diabetic retinopathy in a streptozotocin-induced diabetic rat model[J]. Journal of Ocular Pharmacology and Therapeutics, 2012, 28(1): 76-82.(糖尿病视网膜病变)
22. Kajiyama, Sizuo, et al. "Supplementation of hydrogen-rich water improves lipid and glucose metabolism in patients with type 2 diabetes or impaired glucose tolerance." Nutrition Research 28.3 (2008): 137-143.(人类糖尿病)
23. Nakao, Atsunori, et al. "Effectiveness of hydrogen rich water on antioxidant status of subjects with potential metabolic syndrome—an open label pilot study." Journal of clinical biochemistry and nutrition 46.2 (2010): 140.(人类代谢综合征)
24. de Felippe Junior, Jose. "Effectiveness of hydrogen rich water on antioxidant status of subjects with potential metabolic syndrome-an open label pilot study." diabetes 3: 4.
25. Song, Guohua, et al. "Hydrogen-rich water decreases serum LDL-cholesterol levels and improves HDL function in patients with potential metabolic syndrome." Journal of Lipid Research 54.7 (2013): 1884-1893.(人类代谢综合征脂代谢异常)
