Hydrogen Water Linked to Better Strength and Walking Speed in Older Adults
- Authors
- Yuusuke Harada, Michiko Miyakawa
- Journal
- Journal of Frailty, Sarcopenia and Falls
- Year
- 2026
- DOI
- 10.22540/JFSF-11-137
- Study Type
- Human
- Outcome
- Positive
- Peer Reviewed
- Yes
- Country
- Japan
- Health Condition
- Sarcopenia
- Body System
- Musculoskeletal
TL;DR
Older adults who chose to drink hydrogen-rich water showed better 6-month physical function than non-consumers, though confounding cannot be ruled out.
Key Finding
Older adults who self-selected hydrogen-rich water consumption showed better 6-month improvements in chair-stand performance (1.85 more repetitions), gait speed (0.07 m/s faster), and grip strength (0.80 kg stronger) compared to non-consumers.
Summary
This study followed 128 older adults in Japan for 6 months to see if drinking hydrogen-rich water was linked to changes in physical abilities like standing up from a chair and walking speed. People who chose to drink hydrogen-rich water showed modest improvements in chair-stand performance, walking speed, balance on one leg, and grip strength compared to those who didn't drink it, though the study design cannot prove the water caused these improvements.
Practical Takeaway
While this observational study suggests an association between hydrogen-rich water consumption and modest improvements in physical function in older adults, the study cannot prove hydrogen water caused these changes—people who chose to drink it may have differed in other ways. The authors acknowledge that further controlled studies are needed to establish whether hydrogen water itself provides these benefits.
Abstract (excerpt)
To examine whether self-selected hydrogen-rich water consumption was associated with 6-month changes in physical function among community-dwelling older adults attending community salons. This prospective observational study included 128 older adults in Hiroshima, Japan. Participants were…