Hydrogen Water Reduced Candida Growth in Lab Cell Studies
Antifungal effects of hydrogen water on the growth of <i>Candida albicans</i>
Research hubs: Immune System
This research was done on cells or tissue in a lab, not in people or animals.
- Evidence type
- Laboratory study (cells or tissue)
- Authors
- Mi-Jung Park, Youn-Hee Choi, Keun-Bae Song, Eun-Kyong Kim
- Journal
- Journal of Korean Academy of Oral Health
- Year
- 2019
- Study Type
- Cell Culture
- Delivery
- Water (Dissolved)
- Outcome
- Positive
- Peer Reviewed
- Yes
- Cited by
- 1 (OpenAlex, as of November 2026)
- Country
- South Korea
TL;DR
Hydrogen water can slow down the growth of the fungus C. albicans, which could make it a safe option for oral hygiene.
Key Finding
Hydrogen water significantly inhibited the growth of Candida albicans in laboratory conditions, reducing fungal proliferation compared to tap water at multiple time points.
Summary
Researchers tested hydrogen water—water infused with hydrogen gas through electrolysis—to see if it could slow the growth of Candida albicans, a fungus that causes oral infections. In laboratory dishes, hydrogen water significantly slowed fungal growth compared to regular tap water, though it did not prevent the fungus from forming protective layers called biofilms.
Practical Takeaway
This is an early laboratory study that has not been tested in humans or in the mouth. While the results are promising for potential oral hygiene applications, much more research—including human studies—would be needed before hydrogen water could be recommended as a treatment for fungal infections or oral health.
Abstract (excerpt)
Objectives: This study assessed the antifungal effects of neutral electrolysis hydrogen water, an agent known for its oral anti-bacterial effects on the growth of C. albicans in vitro. Methods: Hydrogen water, denture cleansing agent, and Listerine® were compared to a tap water control. We serially…