Hydrogen Nanobubble Water Shows Long-Lasting Germ-Killing Power and Gut Health Promise
- Authors
- Shin Shimizu, Mikiko Tanaka, Nanami Tominaga, Katsuyuki Fujinami, Keita Takanashi, Katsuaki Dan
- Journal
- International Journal of Molecular Sciences
- Year
- 2026
- DOI
- 10.3390/ijms27156909
- Study Type
- Cell Culture
- Outcome
- Positive
- Peer Reviewed
- Yes
- Country
- Japan
- Health Condition
- Autism Spectrum Disorder
- Body System
- Gastrointestinal
TL;DR
Ultra-fine hydrogen- and ozone-containing bubble waters showed long-lasting antibacterial activity, with ozone formulations remaining effective even at very low concentrations.
Key Finding
Hydrogen and ozone nanobubble waters maintained measurable antibacterial activity for 24 weeks, with ozone nanobubble water remaining effective even at a 1% dilution.
Summary
This study examined a new method for creating ultra-fine bubble water containing hydrogen or ozone gas, where the bubbles remain stable in water for very long periods. Researchers tested whether these nanobubble waters could trap aromatic compounds and fight bacteria over time. They found that both hydrogen and ozone nanobubble waters showed mild ability to encapsulate scent compounds and maintained antibacterial effects for up to 24 weeks. The study also noted that this nanobubble water has been used in a clinical setting as a carrier liquid for fecal microbiota transplantation (a procedure that transfers gut bacteria from a healthy donor to a patient) in individuals with autism spectrum disorder.
Practical Takeaway
This early-stage laboratory study suggests that the way hydrogen water is produced matters significantly — many commercial products may contain only large, unstable bubbles that behave like ordinary water. The antimicrobial findings are preliminary and were tested in lab conditions, not in humans, so they should not be interpreted as health guidance for consumers drinking hydrogen water.
Abstract
Nano- and pico-bubble water (NPB), containing hydrogen or ozone, is widely used as a cleaning agent due to its bactericidal and antiviral properties. However, some products-such as certain hydrogen waters-contain only large bubbles or have an extremely low bubble count, making them sometimes indistinguishable from ordinary drinking water. To accurately evaluate NPB activity, we developed a method for producing ultra-nano-pico-bubble water (NanoGAS water [NGW]), an ultra-fine bubble water that is stable and non-volatile over extended periods. By combining a mixed gas-liquid fluid rotary mixer and a shear filter, we produced ultra-fine bubbles that could be sealed in water. This method produced bubbles that remained stable in water even after 10 years since production. NGW has been clinically evaluated as a solvent for fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) and has been demonstrated to be effective at improving bacterial engraftment in the intestinal tract in patients with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Furthermore, encapsulating specific gases (hydrogen and ozone) can achieve more diverse effects. In this study, we evaluated the aroma-encapsulating effects, as well as the strength and persistence of the antimicrobial activity, of novel NGW formulations (Air-NGW, H2-NGW, S-O3-NGW, and L-O3-NGW). Both H2-NGW and O3-NGW generated in this study demonstrated slight inclusion activity with volatile aromatic compounds (citral). Furthermore, both H2-NGW (at ≥10% dilution) and O3-NGW (even at a 1% dilution) exhibited sustained antibacterial efficacy against general viable bacteria for 24 weeks. Moreover, additive effects were observed when combined with antibacterial and antiviral compounds (polyoxometalates) developed by the authors. While further consideration, including cost-effectiveness, is needed to translate these findings into practical applications, they provide a fundamental framework for future research.