Hydrogen Baths Reduce Belly Fat and Dark Skin Spots in Small Study
- Authors
- Ryoko Asada, Yasukazu Saitoh, Nobuhiko Miwa
- Journal
- Medical Gas Research
- Year
- 2019
- DOI
- 10.4103/2045-9912.260647
- Study Type
- Human
- Outcome
- Positive
- Peer Reviewed
- Yes
- Country
- Japan
- Health Condition
- Visceral Obesity
- Body System
- Integumentary
TL;DR
Bathing in hydrogen-rich water may help reduce skin blotches and belly fat, and improve cholesterol and blood sugar levels, with the hydrogen remaining in the water even after boiling.
Key Finding
In this small trial of four adults, daily hydrogen-rich water baths were associated with reduced skin blotches, decreased visceral (belly) fat area, and improved cholesterol levels in some participants over 1-6 months.
Summary
This small study examined whether bathing in hydrogen-rich water (water infused with dissolved hydrogen gas) could improve skin appearance and reduce belly fat. Four adults took 10-minute warm baths in hydrogen-rich water daily for 1 to 6 months. Researchers found that skin spots became smaller and less noticeable, belly fat decreased in two female participants, and one woman's cholesterol levels improved. The study also confirmed that hydrogen remained in the water even after boiling it.
Practical Takeaway
While this early evidence suggests hydrogen-rich water baths may have cosmetic and metabolic effects, the study is very small (only 4 people) and lacks a control group for comparison, making it impossible to know if results were due to the hydrogen or other factors. Much larger and more rigorous studies would be needed before drawing firm conclusions about hydrogen water's benefits for skin or weight management.
Abstract (excerpt)
Hydrogen-dissolved water has been shown to improve diverse oxidation stress-related diseases, which drove us to examine effects of hydrogen-rich water on oxidation stress-related skin troubles and lipid-metabolism markers. The purpose of this study is whether the dissolved hydrogen in hydrogen-rich…