Hydrogen Baths Reduce Inflammation and Boost Antioxidants in Blood

TL;DR

Bathing in hydrogen-rich water appears to boost antioxidant levels and reduce inflammation in both healthy people and patients with inflammatory diseases.

Key Finding

A 10-minute hydrogen-rich water bath increased antioxidant capacity by about 11% and reduced the inflammation marker C-reactive protein by about 30% in healthy people, with larger reductions observed in patients with autoimmune diseases over longer bathing periods.

Summary

Researchers tested whether bathing in hydrogen-rich water (water infused with hydrogen gas through electrolysis) could reduce inflammation and boost antioxidant levels in the body. In healthy people, a 10-minute bath in hydrogen-rich water increased antioxidant capacity and lowered C-reactive protein (a marker of inflammation) compared to a regular warm water bath. In patients with autoimmune and connective tissue diseases, daily hydrogen-rich water baths over weeks to months reduced inflammation markers and, in some cases, improved visible skin symptoms.

Practical Takeaway

This small study suggests hydrogen-rich water bathing may help reduce inflammation markers, but important limitations apply: the sample size is not reported, the study lacks a detailed control group comparison, and results in disease patients are based on very few individuals. More rigorous research with larger groups and longer follow-up is needed before drawing conclusions about therapeutic benefits for inflammatory or autoimmune conditions.

Abstract (excerpt)

This study compared the effects of hydrogen-water (HW) bath on the oxygen radical absorption-based antioxidant capacity and the inflammatory indicator, C-reactive protein (CRP), in serum between healthy volunteers and inflammatory/collagen disease-patients. The HW bath apparatus supplied…

Read the full abstract via DOI