Hydrogen Water Acts Like Insulin to Help Cells Absorb Sugar
Electrolyzed and Natural Reduced Water Exhibit Insulin-Like Activity on Glucose Uptake into Muscle Cells and Adipocytes
Research hubs: Type 2 Diabetes · Metabolic Syndrome · Endocrine System
- Evidence type
- Laboratory study (cells or tissue)
- Authors
- M. Oda, K. Kusumoto, K. Teruya, T. Hara, T. Maki, S. Kabayama, Y. Katakura, K. Otsubo, S. Morisawa, H. Hayashi, Y. Ishii, S. Shirahata
- Journal
- Animal Cell Technology: Products from Cells, Cells as Products
- Year
- 1999
- DOI
- 10.1007/0-306-46875-1_90
- Study Type
- Cell Culture
- Outcome
- Positive
- Peer Reviewed
- Yes
- Country
- Japan
- Health Condition
- Type 2 Diabetes
- Body System
- Endocrine
This research was done on cells or tissue in a lab, not in people or animals.
TL;DR
Electrolyzed-reduced water (ERW) can boost glucose uptake in muscle and fat cells by counteracting the damaging effects of oxidative stress, potentially helping to manage type 2 diabetes.
Key Finding
Electrolyzed-reduced water stimulated glucose uptake in muscle and fat cells through an insulin-independent mechanism involving activation of a signaling pathway (PI-3 kinase) and movement of glucose transporters to the cell surface.
Summary
Researchers tested electrolyzed-reduced water (water treated with electricity to add hydrogen) in lab-grown muscle and fat cells. They found that this water helped cells take up glucose (blood sugar) more effectively by reducing harmful molecules called reactive oxygen species and activating a cellular pathway that normally responds to insulin. This happened even without insulin being present, suggesting the water mimicked some of insulin's effects on glucose uptake.
Practical Takeaway
This is early laboratory research in isolated cells, not in humans or animals, so it's far too preliminary to draw conclusions about health benefits. While the mechanism is interesting, cell culture studies often don't translate to real-world effects. Much more research—including animal and human studies—would be needed before any claims about hydrogen water and diabetes management could be considered.
Abstract (excerpt)
In the type 2 diabetes, it has become clear that reactive oxygen species (ROS) cause reduction of glucose uptake by inhibiting the insulin-signaling pathway in muscle cells and adipocytes. We demonstrated that electrolyzed-reduced water (ERW) scavenges ROS and protects DNA from oxidative damage1)…