Hydrogen Water Doesn't Boost Running Performance in Trained Athletes
- Authors
- Cheong Hwa Ooi, Siew Kit Ng, Eshaifol Azam Omar
- Journal
- Applied Physiology, Nutrition, and Metabolism
- Year
- 2020
- DOI
- 10.1139/apnm-2019-0553
- Study Type
- Human
- Outcome
- Neutral
- Peer Reviewed
- Yes
- Country
- Malaysia
- Health Condition
- Athletic Performance
- Body System
- Cardiovascular
TL;DR
Drinking hydrogen-rich water did not improve running performance or exercise responses in trained male runners.
Key Finding
Acute ingestion of hydrogen-rich water (290 mL) did not improve running time to exhaustion, maximal oxygen uptake, or any other measure of exercise performance compared to placebo in endurance-trained athletes.
Summary
Researchers tested whether drinking hydrogen-rich water could improve running performance in 14 trained male runners. The athletes drank either hydrogen-rich water or a placebo before and during a treadmill running test. The study found no differences between the two groups in how long runners lasted, how hard they worked, or their oxygen use—suggesting that hydrogen-rich water did not boost athletic performance.
Practical Takeaway
This study provides evidence that a single dose of hydrogen-rich water does not enhance endurance running performance in trained athletes. However, this was a small study with only one dose tested, so it doesn't rule out potential benefits from different doses, delivery methods, or other types of exercise.
Abstract
There is emerging evidence that hydrogen-rich water (H2-water) has beneficial effects on the physiological responses to exercise. However, few studies investigate its ergogenic potential. This randomized controlled trial examined the effects of H2-water ingestion on physiological responses and exercise performance during incremental treadmill running. In a double-blind crossover design, 14 endurance-trained male runners (age, 34 ± 4 years; body mass, 63.1 ± 7.2 kg; height, 1.72 ± 0.05 m) were randomly assigned to ingest 2 doses of 290-mL H2-water or placebo on each occasion. The first bolus was given before six 4-min submaximal running bouts, and the second bolus was consumed before the maximal incremental running test. Expired gas, heart rate (HR), and ratings of perceived exertion (RPE) were recorded; blood samples were collected at the end of each submaximal stage and post maximal running test. Cardiorespiratory responses, RPE, and blood gas indices were not significantly different at each submaximal running intensity (range: 34%-91% maximal oxygen uptake) between H2-water and placebo trials. No statistical difference was observed in running time to exhaustion (618 ± 126 vs. 619 ± 113 s), maximal oxygen uptake (56.9 ± 4.4 vs. 57.1 ± 4.7 mL·kg-1·min-1), maximal HR (184 ± 7 vs. 184 ± 7 beat·min-1), and RPE (19 ± 1 vs. 19 ± 1) in the runners between the trials. The results suggest that the ingestion of 290 mL of H2-water before submaximal treadmill running and an additional dose before the subsequent incremental running to exhaustion were not sufficiently ergogenic in endurance-trained athletes. Novelty Acute ingestion of H2-water does not seem to be ergogenic for endurance performance. A small dose of H2-water does not modulate buffering capacity during intense endurance exercise in athletes.