Effects of 7-day intake of hydrogen-rich water on physical performance of trained and untrained subjects

Abstract

Hydrogen-rich water (HRW) is used as a supplement to improve performance and reduce fatigue in athletes. However, the potentially beneficial effects of HRW intake could be mediated by the training status of athletes. The purpose of the study was to analyse the ergogenic effect of intake of HRW for one week on aerobic and anaerobic performance, both in trained and untrained individuals. Thirty-seven volunteers participated in the study and were divided into two experimental groups: trained cyclists and untrained subjects. A double-blind crossover design was performed in which all subjects took a placebo (PW) and nano-bubble HRW (pH: 7.5; hydrogen concentration: 1.9 ppm; oxidation-reduction potential (ORP): -600 mV). At the end of 7-day intake, performance was assessed by an incremental VO 2 max test and by a maximum anaerobic test. After HRW intake, only trained cyclists improved their performance in the anaerobic test with an increase in peak power (from 766.2 ± 125.6 to 826.5 ± 143.4 W; d = .51) and mean power (from 350.0 ± 53.5 to 380.2 ± 71.3 W; d = .51), and a decrease in the fatigue index (from 77.6 ± 5.8 to 75.1 ± 5.9%; d = .45). The findings demonstrate that the ergogenic effect of HRW is mediated by the training status, and that 7-day intake of HRW would be an effective strategy for improving anaerobic performance in trained cyclists.

Molecular Hydrogen Positively Affects Physical and Respiratory Function in Acute Post-COVID-19 Patients: A New Perspective in Rehabilitation

“…Hence, we suggest that 2 weeks of daily H 2 inhalation resulted in a clinically relevant improvement in physical function in our cohort of acute post-COVID-19 patients. From an improved physical fitness standpoint, the antifatigue effect of H 2 demonstrated in the present study has already been documented in other studies examining different modes of exercise in a healthy population [ 26 , 27 ], well-trained athletes [ 25 , 45 , 59 ], and animal models [ 24 ]. The antifatigue effect of H 2 supplementation was explained by its ability to stimulate oxidative metabolism, reduce oxidative stress, adjust the cellular redox environment and improve immune function.…”

Molecular Hydrogen Mitigates Performance Decrement during Repeated Sprints in Professional Soccer Players

“…H 2 has also been shown to stimulate mitochondrial respiration, Q-cycle [ 25 ], and oxidative ATP phosphorylation (OXOPHOS) rate [ 26 ]. Pre-exercise HRW intake or H 2 inhalation has been shown to have an antifatigue effect across different modes of exercise, including endurance [ 27 , 28 , 29 ], strength-endurance drills [ 30 ], cycling anaerobic power output [ 31 ], maximal isokinetic muscle strength [ 32 ], and during prolonged, intermittent sprints [ 33 ]. H 2 administration strategies varied across studies, e.g., in duration of pre-exercise administration (30 min [ 30 ], 8 h [ 32 ], 24 h [ 28 ], 7 days [ 29 , 31 ], 2 weeks [ 33 ], and 4 weeks [ 27 ]) and administration mode (HRW [ 27 , 28 , 30 , 31 , 32 , 33 ], H 2 inhalation [ 29 ]), which complicates the comparison of the study results.…”

“…Pre-exercise HRW intake or H 2 inhalation has been shown to have an antifatigue effect across different modes of exercise, including endurance [ 27 , 28 , 29 ], strength-endurance drills [ 30 ], cycling anaerobic power output [ 31 ], maximal isokinetic muscle strength [ 32 ], and during prolonged, intermittent sprints [ 33 ]. H 2 administration strategies varied across studies, e.g., in duration of pre-exercise administration (30 min [ 30 ], 8 h [ 32 ], 24 h [ 28 ], 7 days [ 29 , 31 ], 2 weeks [ 33 ], and 4 weeks [ 27 ]) and administration mode (HRW [ 27 , 28 , 30 , 31 , 32 , 33 ], H 2 inhalation [ 29 ]), which complicates the comparison of the study results. However, there is a paucity of studies examining the antifatigue effect of HRW consumption on subsequent repeated sprint performance in team sport in general, and specifically in professional soccer.…”

The Effects of High Mineral Alkaline Water Consumed over Three Consecutive Days on Reaction Time Following Anaerobic Exercise – A Randomized Placebo‐Controlled Crossover Pilot Study

“…Another limitation is that this study did not measure the acid-base balance, which, otherwise, could provide a more detailed mechanistic insight into our findings. Future studies should ideally focus on measuring this variable alongside and comparison to other food supplements like hydrogen-rich water ( Timón et al, 2021 ) or bicarbonates ( Chycki et al, 2021 ). In our study, we used natural AW with pH 8.8, which is not the same as extremely high AW with pH 10, for which negative health consequences in rats have been reported ( Merne et al, 2001 ; Watanabe et al, 1997 ).…”