Hydrogen Water Shows Antioxidant Effects in Rat Study
Electrolyzed hydrogen-saturated water for drinking use elicits an antioxidative effect: a feeding test with rats
Research hubs: Oxidative Stress
This research was done in animals. Results in animals often don't carry over to people.
- Evidence type
- Animal study (rat)
- Authors
- Tomoyuki Yanagihara, Kazuyoshi Arai, Kazuhiro Miyamae, Bunpei Sato, Tatsuya Shudo, Masaharu Yamada, Masahide Aoyama
- Journal
- Bioscience, Biotechnology, and Biochemistry
- Year
- 2005
- PMID
- 16244454
- Study Type
- Rat
- Delivery
- Water (Electrolysis)
- Dose
- Electrolyzed hydrogen-saturated water for drinking for one week
- Duration
- 1 weeks
- Outcome
- Positive
- Peer Reviewed
- Yes
- Cited by
- 46 (OpenAlex, as of November 2026)
- Country
- Japan
TL;DR
Drinking a new type of hydrogen-rich water reduced signs of oxidative stress in rats.
Key Finding
Rats drinking electrolyzed hydrogen-saturated water for one week showed significantly reduced oxidative damage markers (8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine in urine and lipid peroxidation in the liver) after exposure to an oxidative stress-inducing chemical.
Summary
Researchers gave rats electrolyzed hydrogen-saturated water (water infused with hydrogen gas using an electrical device) to drink for one week, then exposed them to a chemical that creates oxidative stress (cellular damage from unstable molecules). Rats drinking the hydrogen water showed reduced markers of oxidative damage in their urine and liver compared to what would be expected, suggesting the hydrogen water may have protective antioxidant effects.
Practical Takeaway
This rat study provides early evidence that hydrogen-enriched water may help reduce oxidative stress in the body. However, this is an animal study only, and the duration and sample size are not reported, so results cannot yet be applied to humans. Further research in people would be needed to determine whether these antioxidant effects translate to health benefits.
Abstract (excerpt)
A new type of electrolyzed hydrogen-saturated (EHS) water was produced using a water-electrolyzing device equipped with a special cation exchanger. Use of the EHS water for drinking in a feeding test with rats elicited an antioxidative effect. After intraperitoneal injection…