Special Hydrogen Water Improves Blood Sugar and Reduces DNA Damage
Effects of hydrogen-rich water prepared by alternating-current-electrolysis on antioxidant activity, DNA oxidative injuries, and diabetes-related markers
Research hubs: Type 2 Diabetes · Metabolic Syndrome · Oxidative Stress · Endocrine System · Cardiovascular System
- Evidence type
- Uncontrolled trial (single-arm or pilot) · Human study
- Authors
- Ryoko Asada, Kenji Tazawa, Shinkichi Sato, Nobuhiko Miwa
- Journal
- Medical Gas Research
- Year
- 2020
- PMID
- 33004708
- Study Type
- Human
- Participants
- 9
- Delivery
- Water (Electrolysis)
- Dose
- 1500 mL per day for 8 weeks
- H₂ concentration
- 1.55 mg/L
- Duration
- 8 weeks
- Funding
- Japanese Center for AntiAging MedSciences (Grant-in-Aid #0204)
- Conflicts of interest
- None declared
- Outcome
- Positive
- Peer Reviewed
- Yes
- Cited by
- 27 (OpenAlex, as of November 2026)
- Country
- Japan
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 (excerpt)
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…