Hydrogen-Rich Water Improves Blood Sugar in Diabetes Patients
Changes in the Relevant Test Parameters of 101 Diabetes Patients under the Influence of the So-Called “Nordenau-Phenomenon”
Research hubs: Type 2 Diabetes · Metabolic Syndrome · Endocrine System · Cardiovascular System
- Evidence type
- Observational study · Human study
- Authors
- Z. Gadek, S. Shirahata
- Journal
- Animal Cell Technology: Basic & Applied Aspects
- Year
- 2002
- Study Type
- Human
- Participants
- 101
- Delivery
- Water, Commercial (Nordenau)
- Dose
- 2 litres of reduced water daily for 10.7 days with two 30-minute tunnel walks
- Duration
- 11 days
- Outcome
- Positive
- Peer Reviewed
- Yes
- Cited by
- 4 (OpenAlex, as of November 2026)
- Country
- Germany
TL;DR
Drinking special 'reduced water' from a spring in an old tunnel in Nordenau, Germany, appeared to help lower blood sugar levels in people with diabetes who stayed there for about 11 days.
Key Finding
Patients who spent 10.7 days consuming hydrogen-rich spring water showed statistically significant improvements in blood glucose and HbA1c levels, a marker of long-term blood sugar control in diabetes.
Summary
Researchers studied 101 diabetes patients who visited Nordenau, Germany, known for an underground spring with special water properties. Patients either stayed for 3 days or about 11 days, drinking 2 liters of spring water daily and walking through a tunnel twice daily. The spring water is described as 'reduced water' (water with added hydrogen molecules). Blood sugar and HbA1c levels (a measure of long-term blood sugar control) improved significantly in the longer-stay group, while cholesterol levels showed only minor changes.
Practical Takeaway
While this study suggests hydrogen-rich water may support blood sugar control in diabetic patients, it has important limitations: there was no control group (patients not drinking the water), the stay involved multiple factors beyond water consumption (tunnel visits, location change), and the sample size and study design were modest. More rigorous research with proper controls is needed before drawing firm conclusions about hydrogen water's effectiveness for diabetes management.
Abstract (excerpt)
The study examined changes in the test parameters of 101 diabetes patients (56 female, 45 male) under the influence of what is known as the “Nordenau Phenomenon”, which attributes a healing effect to an old slate tunnel with an underground spring. The average age of the test persons was 67,9 years…