Biological Effects of Hydrogen Water on Subjects with NAFLD: A Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Trial

Abstract

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a liver pathology affecting around 25% of the population worldwide. Excess oxidative stress, inflammation and aberrant cellular signaling can lead to this hepatic dysfunction and eventual carcinoma. Molecular hydrogen has been recognized for its selective antioxidant properties and ability to attenuate inflammation and regulate cellular function. We administered hydrogen-rich water (HRW) to 30 subjects with NAFLD in a randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled manner for eight weeks. Phenotypically, we observed beneficial trends (p > 0.05) in decreased weight (≈1 kg) and body mass index in the HRW group. HRW was well-tolerated, with no significant changes in liver enzymes and a trend of improved lipid profile and reduced lactate dehydrogenase levels. HRW tended to non-significantly decrease levels of nuclear factor kappa B, heat shock protein 70 and matrix metalloproteinase-9. Interestingly, there was a mild, albeit non-significant, tendency of increased levels of 8-hydroxy-2’-deoxyguanosine and malondialdehyde in the HRW group. This mild increase may be indicative of the hormetic effects of molecular hydrogen that occurred prior to the significant clinical improvements reported in previous longer-term studies. The favorable trends in this study in conjunction with previous animal and clinical findings suggest that HRW may serve as an important adjuvant therapy for promoting and maintaining optimal health and wellness. Longer term studies focused on prevention, maintenance, or treatment of NAFLD and early stages of NASH are warranted.

The Effects of Hydrogen-Rich Water on Blood Lipid Profiles in Clinical Populations: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

“…After 81 studies with no relevance were removed through title and abstract screening, ten studies were eligible for full-text screening. Finally, seven articles were considered to be included in this SRMA, involving 256 participants [ 12 , 17 , 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 , 22 ]. The study search was conducted by 4 October 2022.…”

“…The study population contained participants with various conditions. In two studies [ 17 , 18 ], participants were older adults with NAFLD, two studies evaluated overweight and/or patients with hypercholesterolemia [ 12 , 21 ], while the remaining three studies evaluated patients with T2DM [ 22 ], metabolic syndrome [ 21 ], or elderly population with accompanying diseases [ 20 ].…”

“…In terms of intake, all participants in the studies ingested HRW. Participants in five of the seven studies consumed approximately 1 L per day of HRW in three separate dosages [ 17 , 18 , 19 , 21 , 22 ]. In one study [ 20 ], participants were given 500 mL/d of HRW divided into two doses, whereas in one study the amount of HRW consumed was not reported [ 12 ].…”

“…In six of seven analyzed studies, lipid profiles were assessed through the following blood analysis: TC, HDL, LDL, and triglycerides [ 12 , 17 , 18 , 19 , 20 , 22 ]. Only the study by Song et al [ 21 ] evaluated TC, HDL, and LDL, with the exception of triglycerides.…”

“…During the last few years, several studies evaluated the effects of HRW on various metabolic conditions, such as non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) [ 17 , 18 ], obesity, or metabolic syndrome [ 12 , 19 ], pointing to possible effects of HRW in regulating lipoprotein and lipid status. However, to the best of the authors’ knowledge, there is no systematic review and meta-analysis (SRMA) published considering H 2 consumption and lipid status.…”