ABSTRACT & COMMENTARY
Going Beyond the Hype of Hydrogen Water
New randomized, double-blind, controlled trial suggests hydrogen water can increase antioxidant capacity and reduce inflammation REFERENCE
Sim M, Kim CS, Shon WJ, Lee YK, Choi EY, Shin DM. Hydrogen-rich water reduces inflammatory responses and prevents apoptosis of peripheral blood cells in healthy adults: a randomized, double-blind, controlled trial. Sci Rep. 2020;10(1):12130. STUDY OBJECTIVE
To determine if hydrogen water versus plain water increases antioxidant capacity, reduces oxidative stress, and improves immune function in healthy adults PARTICIPANTS
A total of 38 healthy adults aged 20 to 59 years completed the trial and were randomly assigned to the plain water group (n=18) or the hydrogen water group (n=20). At baseline when the study began, there was no statistical difference in age, height, weight, body mass index (BMI), and daily water intake between the 2 groups (P>0.05). DESIGN
Randomized, double-blind, controlled trial INTERVENTION
For 4 weeks, each group drank 1.5 liters (approximately 51 ounces) of either plain or hydrogen water daily. The hydrogen water was regular water with hydrogen (H2) gas added. Researchers provided the water in 3 different bottles and directed all participants to drink the bottle of water within 1 hour of opening it to minimize the loss of dissolved hydrogen from those bottles containing it. MEASURED OUTCOMES
Researchers measured the following outcomes: • Antioxidant capacity as indicated by serum biological antioxidant potential (BAP) • Oxidative stress via the level of serum derivatives of reactive oxygen metabolites (d-ROMs) • Apoptosis via the number of apoptotic cells in the blood • Profiles of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) for cell-surface markers including CD4, CD8, CD14, CD20, and CD11b • Inflammation via toll-like receptor (TLR) NF-кB (nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells) signaling, as well as pro-inflammatory cytokine expression. 14 ©2021 NATURAL MEDICINE JOURNAL. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. NMJ, MAY 2021 SUPPLEMENT—VOL. 13, NO. 51 (SUPPL)
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By Dana G. Cohen, MD, and Karolyn A. Gazella
What is additionally interesting about this study is that the benefits of hydrogen water were more significant in individuals over age 30.
KEY FINDINGS
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The following findings were observed:
• Participants in the hydrogen water group who were aged over 30 years showed a significant increase in BAP compared to the plain water group (P=0.028), but there was no significant effect on BAP in younger individuals in the hydrogen water group compared to plain water. • A marker for DNA damage due to oxidative stress (8-Oxo-2’-deoxyguanosine) significantly decreased in both groups (Δ=− 0.94 ± 1.44 ng/ mL, P<0.05 in the plain water group; Δ=−1.32 ± 1.05 ng/mL, P<0.001 in the hydrogen water group). • After the 4 weeks, the hydrogen water group showed a significantly lower percentage of PBMC apoptosis compared to the plain water group (P=0.036). • The frequency of CD14+ cells increased in the hydrogen water group and decreased in the plain water group, and this difference reached statistical significance (P=0.039). • The hydrogen water group had significantly lower expression levels of several cytokines: interleukin 1 beta (IL1B), interleukin 8 (IL8), interleukin 6 receptor (IL6R), and tumor necrosis factor receptor superfamily member 10B (TNFRSF10B) compared to the plain water group. (continued on page 16)
