Hydrogen Water Protects Cells and Reduces Cancer Growth in Lab Study
Electrolyzed Reduced Water Which Can Scavenge Active Oxygen Species Supresses Cell Growth and Regulates Gene Expression of Animal Cells
Research hubs: Oxidative Stress
This research was done on cells or tissue in a lab, not in people or animals.
- Evidence type
- Laboratory study (cells or tissue)
- Authors
- S. Shirahata, S. Kabayama, K. Kusumoto, M. Gotoh, K. Teruya, K. Otsubo, J. S. Morisawa, H. Hayashi, K. Katakura
- Journal
- New Developments and New Applications in Animal Cell Technology
- Year
- 1998
- Study Type
- Cell Culture
- Delivery
- Water (Electrolysis)
- H₂ concentration
- extremely high dissolved molecular hydrogen
- Outcome
- Positive
- Peer Reviewed
- Yes
- Cited by
- 5 (OpenAlex, as of November 2026)
- Country
- Japan
TL;DR
Special water created through electrolysis called reduced water can neutralize harmful oxygen molecules and may influence cell behavior and immune responses.
Key Finding
Electrolyzed reduced water suppressed the growth of multiple cancer cell lines (lung, cervical, and bone cancer) and normal cells in laboratory cultures, while also showing antioxidant properties that protected DNA from oxidative damage.
Summary
Researchers tested electrolyzed reduced water—water that has been treated to contain high levels of dissolved hydrogen and a negative electrical charge—in laboratory cell cultures. They found that this water reduced the growth of several types of cancer cells and normal cells, and it appeared to neutralize harmful molecules called active oxygen species that can damage DNA. The water also changed how certain genes were expressed in bone cancer cells.
Practical Takeaway
This study is limited to laboratory cell cultures, not living organisms or humans, so it cannot yet tell us whether hydrogen water would have these effects in the body. While the results are interesting, much more research—including animal studies and human clinical trials—would be needed before any health claims could be made about hydrogen water and cancer or oxidative stress.
Abstract (excerpt)
Active oxygen species are considered to cause extensive oxidative damage to biological macromolecules, which bring about a variety of diseases as well as aging. Reduced water produced near cathode during electrolysis of water exhibits high pH, low dissolved oxygen, extremely high dissolvedmolecular…