Hydrogen Water Improves Quality of Life During Cancer Radiation Treatment
Effects of drinking hydrogen-rich water on the quality of life of patients treated with radiotherapy for liver tumors
Research hubs: Immune System
- Evidence type
- Randomized controlled trial · Human study
- Authors
- Ki-Mun Kang, Young-Nam Kang, Ihil-Bong Choi, Yeunhwa Gu, Tomohiro Kawamura, Yoshiya Toyoda, Atsunori Nakao
- Journal
- Medical Gas Research
- Year
- 2011
- PMID
- 22146004
- Study Type
- Human
- Participants
- 49
- Delivery
- Water (Mg-Chemico)
- Dose
- hydrogen-rich water for 6 weeks
- H₂ concentration
- 0.55~0.65 mM
- Duration
- 6 weeks
- Funding
- Daimaru Research Foundation
- Conflicts of interest
- None declared
- Outcome
- Positive
- Peer Reviewed
- Yes
- Cited by
- 162 (OpenAlex, as of November 2026)
- Country
- South Korea
TL;DR
Drinking hydrogen-rich water helped improve the quality of life and reduced oxidative stress for cancer patients undergoing radiotherapy, without affecting the treatment's effectiveness against tumors.
Key Finding
Patients who drank hydrogen-rich water during radiotherapy for liver cancer reported significantly better quality of life and had reduced radiation-induced oxidative stress markers compared to those who drank regular water.
Summary
This study tested whether drinking hydrogen-rich water could help liver cancer patients undergoing radiotherapy feel better and have fewer side effects. Forty-nine patients either drank hydrogen-enriched water or regular water for 6 weeks while receiving radiation treatment. Patients who drank the hydrogen water reported better quality of life and had lower levels of harmful molecules (reactive oxygen species) in their blood that are created by radiation, while the radiation still worked equally well against their tumors.
Practical Takeaway
This small human study suggests hydrogen-rich water may help reduce radiotherapy side effects in cancer patients, though more research with larger groups is needed to confirm these results. The study did not measure long-term health outcomes or survival, so it's unclear whether improved quality of life during treatment translates to broader health benefits. Anyone undergoing cancer treatment should discuss any supplementation with their oncologist before use.
Abstract (excerpt)
Background: Cancer patients receiving radiotherapy often experience fatigue and impaired quality of life (QOL). Many side effects of radiotherapy are believed to be associated with increased oxidative stress and inflammation due to the generation of reactive oxygen species during radiotherapy…