Hydrogen Water Boosts Gum Disease Treatment Results
- Authors
- Tetsuji Azuma, Mayu Yamane, Daisuke Ekuni, Yuya Kawabata, Kota Kataoka, Kenta Kasuyama, Takayuki Maruyama, Takaaki Tomofuji, Manabu Morita
- Journal
- Antioxidants
- Year
- 2015
- DOI
- 10.3390/antiox4030513
- Study Type
- Human
- Outcome
- Positive
- Peer Reviewed
- Yes
- Country
- Japan
- Health Condition
- Periodontitis
- Body System
- Oral Health
TL;DR
Drinking hydrogen-rich water improved gum health and reduced signs of oxidative stress in people with gum disease undergoing non-surgical treatment.
Key Finding
Patients who drank hydrogen-rich water alongside standard periodontal treatment showed greater improvements in gum pocket depth and clinical attachment level compared to those receiving treatment alone.
Summary
This small pilot study tested whether drinking hydrogen-rich water could improve the results of standard gum disease treatment. Thirteen patients with periodontitis (a gum disease involving inflammation and bone loss) were divided into two groups: one received standard treatment alone, while the other received the same treatment plus drank hydrogen-rich water 4-5 times daily for eight weeks. The group drinking hydrogen-rich water showed greater improvements in gum pocket depth and attachment to teeth, and their blood showed increased antioxidant capacity (a measure of the body's ability to fight cellular damage).
Practical Takeaway
This early-stage pilot study suggests that hydrogen-rich water may support gum disease treatment, but the results are preliminary—only 13 patients were studied, making it too small to draw firm conclusions. More research in larger groups is needed before recommending hydrogen-rich water as an addition to periodontal care. Anyone with gum disease should continue following their dentist's treatment recommendations.
Abstract
Oxidative stress is involved in the pathogenesis of periodontitis. A reduction of oxidative stress by drinking hydrogen-rich water (HW) might be beneficial to periodontal health. In this pilot study, we compared the effects of non-surgical periodontal treatment with or without drinking HW on periodontitis. Thirteen patients (3 women, 10 men) with periodontitis were divided into two groups: The control group (n = 6) or the HW group (n = 7). In the HW group, participants consumed HW 4–5 times/day for eight weeks. At two to four weeks, all participants received non-surgical periodontal treatment. Oral examinations were performed at baseline, two, four and eight weeks, and serum was obtained at these time points to evaluate oxidative stress. At baseline, there were no significant differences in periodontal status between the control and HW groups. The HW group showed greater improvements in probing pocket depth and clinical attachment level than the control group at two, four and eight weeks (p < 0.05). The HW group also exhibited an increased serum level of total antioxidant capacity at four weeks, compared to baseline (p < 0.05). Drinking HW enhanced the effects of non-surgical periodontal treatment, thus improving periodontitis.