Special Hydrogen Water Improves Blood Sugar and Reduces DNA Damage

Authors
Journal
Medical Gas Research
Year
DOI
10.4103/2045-9912.296041
Study Type
Human
Outcome
Positive
Peer Reviewed
Yes
Country
Japan
Health Condition
Type 2 Diabetes
Body System
Endocrine

TL;DR

Drinking water with high levels of hydrogen made using alternating current (AC) electrolysis may help improve blood sugar levels and reduce DNA damage in people with diabetes.

Key Finding

Nine people with diabetes-related blood abnormalities who drank 1,500 mL of hydrogen-rich water daily for 8 weeks showed significant decreases in fasting blood glucose and increases in a marker called 1,5-anhydro-D-glucitol, along with reduced DNA oxidative damage markers.

Summary

Researchers tested a new way to make hydrogen-rich water using alternating electrical current instead of the traditional direct current method. They gave nine people with abnormal diabetes-related blood markers 1,500 mL of this water daily for 8 weeks. The water showed antioxidant properties (meaning it could neutralize harmful molecules called free radicals), and the participants showed improvements in blood sugar levels and markers of DNA damage.

Practical Takeaway

This early human study suggests hydrogen-rich water prepared by AC-electrolysis may support improvements in diabetes-related markers and reduce DNA damage. However, the study involved only nine people over 8 weeks, so results should be considered preliminary. Larger, longer studies would be needed before drawing firm conclusions about effectiveness for diabetes management.

Abstract

Hydrogen-rich water is conventionally prepared by direct current-electrolysis, but has been not or scarcely prepared by alternating current (AC)-electrolysis. The AC preparations from tap water for 20-30 minutes exhibit a dissolved hydrogen concentration of 1.55 mg/L, which was close to the theoretical maximum value of 1.6 mg/L. These preparations also displayed an oxidation-reduction potential of -270 mV (tap water: +576 mV) and pH of 7.7-7.8, being closer to physiological values of body fluids than general types of direct current-electrolytic hydrogen-rich water. We examined whether AC-electrolytic hydrogen-water is retained for hydrogen-abundance after boiling or for antioxidant abilities, and whether the oral administration of this water is clinically effective for diabetes and prevention against systemic DNA-oxidative injuries. 5,5-Dimethyl-1-pyrroline-N-oxide spin trapping and electron spin resonance revealed that the hydrogen-rich water generated by AC-electrolysis exhibited hydroxyl-radical-scavenging activities. Laser nanoparticle tracking method revealed that nanoparticle suspensions as abundant as 5.4 × 107/mL were efficiently retained (up to 3.5 × 107/mL) even after boiling for 10 minutes, being thermodynamically contrary to Henry's law. Oral intake of hydrogen-rich water, 1500 mL per day, lasted for 8 weeks in nine people with the diabetes-related serum markers beyond the normal ranges. The subjects exhibited significant tendencies for the decreased fasting blood glucose and fructosamine, and for the increased 1,5-anhydro-D-glucitol, concomitantly with significant decreases in urinary 8-hydroxy-2-deoxyguanosine contents and its rate of generation. Hydrogen-rich water prepared by AC-electrolysis may be effective in improving diverse diabetes-related markers and systemic DNA oxidative injuries through the formation of abundant heat-resistant nanobubbles and the increased hydrogen concentrations. The study protocol was officially approved by the Medical Ethics Committee of the Japanese Center for Anti-Aging Medical Sciences (approval No. 01S02) on September 15, 2009.