Hydrogen Water Doesn't Boost Exercise Performance in Heat
- Authors
- Hiroto Ito, Shigeru Kabayma, Kazushige Goto
- Journal
- Temperature
- Year
- 2020
- DOI
- 10.1080/23328940.2020.1742056
- Study Type
- Human
- Outcome
- Neutral
- Peer Reviewed
- Yes
- Country
- Japan
- Health Condition
- Exercise Performance
- Body System
- Cardiovascular
TL;DR
Drinking electrolyzed hydrogen water (EHW) during exercise in the heat may lower energy use but doesn't improve exercise performance or affect how the body maintains its fluid levels.
Key Finding
Electrolyzed hydrogen water reduced energy expenditure by about 0.5 kcal/min during endurance exercise in heat compared to regular water, but did not improve exercise performance or time to exhaustion.
Summary
Researchers had 12 trained cyclists drink either regular purified water or electrolyzed hydrogen water (water containing extra hydrogen molecules made through an electrical process) while exercising for 60 minutes in heat, then tested how long they could continue exercising at increasing intensity. The hydrogen water group used slightly less energy during exercise, but there were no differences between groups in how long they could exercise, how much fluid they lost, or their body temperature.
Practical Takeaway
This small study in trained athletes suggests hydrogen water may have minor effects on how the body uses energy during exercise, but it did not enhance performance or provide other physical benefits. The practical significance of using slightly less energy without improved endurance is unclear, and results from this single 12-person study would need to be confirmed in larger trials before drawing conclusions for general use.
Abstract
Electrolyzed hydrogen water (EHW) is generated at a cathode. It contains many hydrogen molecules with high alkaline properties. The physiological effects of ingesting EHW during endurance exercise are unclear. The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of ingesting EHW during endurance exercise in a heated environment on body fluid balance and exercise performance. Twelve triathletes (20.0 ± 1.3 years, 171 ± 6 cm, 60.6 ± 3.9 kg, V̇O2max 67.1 ± 3.8 mL/kg/min) performed pedaling exercise for 60 min at 65% of V̇O2max consuming either purified water (CON trial) or EHW (EHW trial) and then conducted an incremental pedaling test. Blood parameters, tissue temperature, and respiratory variables were determined during 60 min of exercise. The time to exhaustion (TTE) during the incremental pedaling test was also determined. Body weights were 1.1 ± 0.4 kg lower after exercise, with no significant differences between trials. Plasma volume and serum osmolality and blood sodium and potassium concentrations significantly changed with exercise, but no significant differences were observed between trials. The pH, blood lactate and bicarbonate concentrations, and changes in skin and muscle temperature did not significantly differ between the two trials. Energy expenditure during exercise was significantly (P = 0.04) lower in the EHW trial (13.2 ± 0.5 kcal/min) than in the CON trial (13.7 ± 0.4 kcal/min). TTE did not significantly differ between the trials. In conclusion, EHW ingestion during endurance exercise in a heated environment decreased energy expenditure but did not affect body fluid balance or exercise performance. Abbreviations: CON: control trial; CV: coefficient of variation; EHW: electrolyzed hydrogen water; HR: heart rate; RPE: rating of perceived exertion; SE: standard error; TP: total protein; TTE: time to exhaustion.