Hydrogen Water Reduced Hangover Effects in Rats
Electrolyzed-reduced water inhibits acute ethanol-induced hangovers in Sprague-Dawley rats
Research hubs: Digestive System
This research was done in animals. Results in animals often don't carry over to people.
- Evidence type
- Animal study (rat)
- Authors
- Seung-Kyu Park, Xu-Feng Qi, Soon-Bong Song, Dong-Heui Kim, Yung-Chien Teng, Yang-Suk Yoon, Kwang-Yong Kim, Jian-Hong Li, Dan Jin, Kyu-Jae Lee
- Journal
- Biomedical Research
- Year
- 2009
- PMID
- 19887722
- Study Type
- Rat
- Delivery
- Water (Electrolysis)
- Dose
- oral administration of electrolyzed-reduced water
- Duration
- 1 day or less
- Outcome
- Positive
- Peer Reviewed
- Yes
- Cited by
- 25 (OpenAlex, as of November 2026)
- Country
- South Korea
TL;DR
Drinking electrolyzed-reduced water (ERW) may help reduce hangover symptoms by speeding up alcohol breakdown and boosting the body's defense against oxidative stress.
Key Finding
Electrolyzed-reduced water enhanced rats' ability to metabolize alcohol and activated their natural antioxidant defenses, resulting in faster alcohol clearance and reduced markers of liver damage.
Summary
Researchers gave rats electrolyzed-reduced water (water treated with electricity to add hydrogen) before exposing them to alcohol, then measured how their bodies processed the alcohol and handled oxidative stress (cellular damage from harmful molecules). Rats that drank the treated water cleared alcohol from their bloodstream faster, had better liver function markers, and showed stronger natural antioxidant defenses (the body's damage-fighting systems) compared to rats given regular water.
Practical Takeaway
This rat study suggests electrolyzed-reduced water may help the body process alcohol more efficiently, but these results have not been tested in humans. Before considering this for hangover relief, understand that animal studies often don't translate directly to human effects, and no human clinical trials have yet confirmed whether this water would have similar benefits for people.
Abstract (excerpt)
Ethanol consumption disturbs the balance between the pro- and anti-oxidant systems of the organism, leading to oxidative stress. Electrolyzed-reduced water (ERW) is widely used by people in East Asia for drinking purposes because of its therapeutic properties including scavenging effect of reactive…