Hydrogen Water Safety Study Shows No Harmful Effects in Laboratory Tests
Biological safety of neutral-pH hydrogen-enriched electrolyzed water upon mutagenicity, genotoxicity and subchronic oral toxicity
Research hubs: Oxidative Stress
This research was done in animals. Results in animals often don't carry over to people.
- Evidence type
- Animal study (cell culture)
- Authors
- Yasukazu Saitoh, Yoshikazu Harata, Fukutaro Mizuhashi, Madoka Nakajima, Nobuhiko Miwa
- Journal
- Toxicology and Industrial Health
- Year
- 2010
- PMID
- 20203135
- Study Type
- Cell Culture
- Delivery
- Water (Electrolysis)
- Dose
- 20 mL/kg/day for 28 days via intragastric infusion
- H₂ concentration
- 0.90-1.14 ppm
- Duration
- 4 weeks
- Outcome
- Positive
- Peer Reviewed
- Yes
- Country
- Japan
TL;DR
Drinking water enriched with hydrogen does not cause genetic damage or other harmful effects in rats, suggesting it's safe for humans to consume up to 1.2 liters per day.
Key Finding
Hydrogen-enriched water showed no mutagenic, genotoxic, or toxic effects in comprehensive laboratory and animal testing, with safety margins suggesting humans could safely consume up to 1.2 liters per day.
Summary
Researchers tested a type of water enriched with hydrogen gas to see if it could cause genetic damage or be toxic. They used lab tests on bacteria and cells, plus gave the water to rats for 28 days. The water did not cause mutations (permanent changes to DNA), chromosome damage, or any signs of toxicity in the rats, even at high doses.
Practical Takeaway
This is a safety study in animals and cells, not a test of health benefits. It suggests hydrogen-enriched water is unlikely to cause genetic damage or poisoning at typical consumption levels, which is a necessary first step before studying whether it actually helps with health conditions. However, human studies are still needed to determine if it provides any real health benefits.
Abstract (excerpt)
Hydrogen-dissolved water has been suggested to be effective for alleviating the oxidative stress. In the present study, neutral-pH hydrogen-enriched electrolyzed water (NHE-water; dissolved hydrogen: 0.90-1.14 parts per million [ppm]; oxido-reduced potential: -150 approximately -80 mV), which was…