Long-Term Hydrogen Therapy Changes Body Chemistry in Healthy Rats
Effects of long-term hydrogen intervention on the physiological function of rats
Research hubs: Cardiovascular System
This research was done in animals. Results in animals often don't carry over to people.
- Evidence type
- Animal study (rat)
- Authors
- Zhi-ming Xun, Qing-hui Zhao, Yan Zhang, Fang-di Ju, Jin He, Ting-ting Yao, Xiao-kang Zhang, Yang Yi, Sheng-nan Ma, Peng-xiang Zhao, Xiao-yan Jin, Ying-xian Li, Xiao-yang Li, Xue-mei Ma, Fei Xie
- Journal
- Scientific Reports
- Year
- 2020
- PMID
- 33116163
- Study Type
- Rat
- Delivery
- Water (Mg-Chemico)
- Dose
- six-month hydrogen intervention via hydrogen-rich water intake and hydrogen inhalation
- Duration
- 6 months
- Outcome
- Positive
- Peer Reviewed
- Yes
- Cited by
- 26 (OpenAlex, as of November 2026)
- Country
- China
TL;DR
Breathing in hydrogen gas or drinking hydrogen-rich water can significantly affect heart-related enzymes and other blood markers, with inhalation showing stronger effects than drinking.
Key Finding
Long-term hydrogen administration altered multiple blood chemistry markers in healthy rats, with hydrogen inhalation producing more pronounced changes than hydrogen-rich water intake.
Summary
Researchers gave rats hydrogen through two methods—drinking hydrogen-rich water or breathing hydrogen gas—for six months and measured changes in blood chemistry. Both methods caused significant changes in 13 different blood markers, with the most notable changes in enzymes related to heart muscle. Breathing hydrogen gas produced stronger effects than drinking hydrogen-rich water.
Practical Takeaway
This rat study suggests that different ways of delivering hydrogen to the body may have different effects on blood chemistry. However, this is animal research only, and it's unclear whether these changes in rats would apply to humans or whether they would be beneficial or harmful. Much more research, including human studies, would be needed before drawing any conclusions about hydrogen's effects on health.
Abstract (excerpt)
The potential therapeutic effects of molecular hydrogen (H2) have now been confirmed in various human and animal-disease models. However, the effects of H2 on the physiological function in a normal state have been largely neglected. Hydrogen-rich water (HRW) intake and hydrogen inhalation (HI)…