Hydrogen Water Boosts Antioxidant Power Against Cell Damage

TL;DR

Using a special type of 'reduced' water enhances the ability of certain antioxidants to neutralize harmful oxygen molecules, and this water also contains a form of hydrogen that can help reduce levels of hydrogen peroxide.

Key Finding

Electrochemically-treated water enhanced the antioxidant activity of certain compounds and reduced hydrogen peroxide levels in laboratory assays, with effects attributed to activated dissolved hydrogen rather than the water itself.

Summary

Researchers created water by passing electricity through salt solution and tested whether it had antioxidant properties (the ability to neutralize harmful molecules called free radicals). They found that this electrochemically-treated water enhanced the antioxidant activity of certain compounds and could break down hydrogen peroxide, a reactive oxygen species. The study suggests that dissolved hydrogen gas in the treated water was responsible for these effects, though the experiments were conducted in laboratory test tubes rather than in living organisms.

Practical Takeaway

This is an early laboratory study showing potential mechanisms by which electrochemically-activated water might affect oxidative stress at the molecular level. However, these are test-tube experiments without human or animal testing, so it remains unclear whether these effects would occur in the human body or provide any health benefit. Much more research, including animal and human studies, would be needed before drawing conclusions about practical applications.

Abstract (excerpt)

Antioxidant vitamins and enzymes such as superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione peroxidase are considered to function as scavengers against reactive oxygen species and to provide protection against reactive oxygen species, including free radicals. Although antioxidants such as L-ascorbic…

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