Hydrogen Water Gargling Eases Mouth Sores and Pain in Cancer Patients

Summary by Hydrogen Studies Editorial Team · Updated

Authors
Journal
Integrative Cancer Therapies
Year
DOI
10.1177/15347354261463550
Study Type
Human
Outcome
Positive
Peer Reviewed
Yes
Country
Taiwan
Health Condition
Oral Mucositis
Body System
Oral and Dental

TL;DR

Hydrogen-water gargling reduced oral mucositis, pain, and quality-of-life burden in head and neck cancer patients receiving radiotherapy or chemoradiotherapy.

Key Finding

Head and neck cancer patients who gargled with hydrogen water experienced significant reductions in radiation-induced oral sores and pain by day 14, along with improvements in quality of life, compared to those who gargled with distilled water.

Summary

This study tested whether gargling with hydrogen water could help head and neck cancer patients manage side effects from radiation treatment. Patients were randomly assigned to gargle with either hydrogen water or regular distilled water, and researchers measured oral sores (mucositis), pain, and quality of life over two weeks. The hydrogen water group showed significant improvements in oral sore severity and pain by day 14, and reported better quality of life compared to the control group.

Practical Takeaway

This pilot study suggests hydrogen water gargling may help manage radiation side effects in cancer patients, but it is small and limited to a single center. Larger, multi-center trials are needed before hydrogen water can be recommended as a standard complementary therapy. Anyone undergoing cancer treatment should discuss any new interventions with their medical team first.

Abstract (excerpt)

BackgroundTraditional, complementary, and integrative medicine (TCIM) is an evolving field in oncology focused on managing cancer symptoms. Hydrogen water (HW) has gained attention for its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, yet its clinical effectiveness needs further exploration. This…

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