How Much Hydrogen Water Actually Gets Used by Your Body
Estimation of molecular hydrogen consumption in the human whole body after the ingestion of hydrogen-rich water
Research hubs: Oxidative Stress · Respiratory System
- Evidence type
- Uncontrolled trial (single-arm or pilot) · Human study
- Authors
- Akito Shimouchi, Kazutoshi Nose, Mikiyasu Shirai, Takaharu Kondo
- Journal
- Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology
- Year
- 2011
- PMID
- 22259109
- Study Type
- Human
- Participants
- 7
- Delivery
- Water (Electrolysis)
- Dose
- Single ingestion of hydrogen-rich water
- H₂ concentration
- 36 ppm
- Outcome
- Neutral
- Peer Reviewed
- Yes
- Cited by
- 54 (OpenAlex, as of November 2026)
- Country
- Japan
TL;DR
Drinking hydrogen-rich water leads to the body using about 40% of the hydrogen to fight damaging molecules, with the rest being breathed out.
Key Finding
Approximately 40% of hydrogen ingested from hydrogen-rich water is absorbed and consumed by the human body, while 59% is exhaled and the remainder is lost through other routes.
Summary
In this study, seven adults drank hydrogen-rich water, and researchers measured how much hydrogen gas appeared in their breath over time. They found that about 59% of the hydrogen was exhaled within an hour, while approximately 40% was consumed by the body. The remaining hydrogen was lost through skin or other routes. These results suggest that hydrogen from the water does enter the bloodstream and body tissues, where it may interact with harmful molecules called hydroxyl radicals.
Practical Takeaway
This small study provides early evidence that hydrogen from drinking hydrogen-rich water does reach the body rather than simply passing through unchanged. However, the study only measured how much hydrogen was consumed—not whether this consumption actually produces health benefits. Much larger human studies would be needed to determine if the amount of hydrogen absorbed has any meaningful effect on disease or health outcomes.
Abstract (excerpt)
Recent studies have revealed that inhaled or ingested hydrogen gas (H 2) inactivates reactive oxygen species such as hydroxyl radicals in various kinds of diseases and disorders in animal models and that H2 reduces oxidative stress-induced damage in brain, heart, and other peripheral tissues. These…