Electrochemically Reduced Water and Reactive Oxygen Species in Lab Tests
Electrochemically reduced water exerts superior reactive oxygen species scavenging activity in HT1080 cells than the equivalent level of hydrogen-dissolved water
Research hubs: Oxidative Stress · Immune System
This research was done on cells or tissue in a lab, not in people or animals.
- Evidence type
- Laboratory study (cells or tissue)
- Authors
- Takeki Hamasaki, Gakuro Harada, Noboru Nakamichi, Shigeru Kabayama, Kiichiro Teruya, Bunshi Fugetsu, Wei Gong, Ichiro Sakata, Sanetaka Shirahata
- Journal
- PLoS One
- Year
- 2017
- PMID
- 28182635
- Study Type
- Cell Culture
- Delivery
- Water (Electrolysis)
- Outcome
- Positive
- Peer Reviewed
- Yes
- Cited by
- 36 (OpenAlex, as of November 2026)
- Country
- Japan
TL;DR
Electrochemically reduced water (ERW) has better antioxidant properties than just hydrogen-rich water, and these properties may be due to more than just the dissolved hydrogen.
Key Finding
Electrochemically reduced water reduced harmful reactive oxygen species inside cells more effectively than water with equivalent levels of dissolved hydrogen, suggesting that additional components like platinum nanoparticles—not hydrogen alone—account for ERW's antioxidative effects.
Summary
Researchers compared two types of water for their ability to neutralize harmful molecules called reactive oxygen species (ROS) inside human cancer cells. Electrochemically reduced water (ERW), made through electrolysis near a cathode, was more effective at reducing ROS than regular water with just dissolved hydrogen added to it. The study suggests that ERW's extra benefit comes from platinum nanoparticles created during the electrolysis process, not just from the hydrogen alone.
Practical Takeaway
This laboratory study in cancer cells suggests ERW may have antioxidative properties beyond what dissolved hydrogen provides, but the findings are limited to cell culture and do not demonstrate effects in humans. More research is needed to determine whether these cellular effects translate to health benefits in people.
Abstract (excerpt)
Electrochemically reduced water (ERW) is produced near a cathode during electrolysis and exhibits an alkaline pH, contains richly dissolved hydrogen, and contains a small amount of platinum nanoparticles. ERW has reactive oxygen species (ROS)-scavenging activity and recent studies demonstrated that…