Hydrogen Gas Boosts Sprint Performance and Reduces Exercise Fatigue
- Authors
- Gengxin Dong, Haiyan Liu, Yunji Chen, Dapeng Bao, Wentao Xu, Junhong Zhou
- Journal
- Nutrients
- Year
- 2024
- DOI
- 10.3390/nu16142341
- Study Type
- Human
- Outcome
- Positive
- Peer Reviewed
- Yes
- Country
- China
- Health Condition
- Exercise Fatigue
- Body System
- Muscular
TL;DR
Breathing in hydrogen-rich gas before sprinting improves performance and reduces fatigue, possibly by helping the body burn fat for energy more efficiently.
Key Finding
Breathing hydrogen-rich gas before high-intensity sprint exercise improved power output in later sprints and reduced fatigue compared to breathing regular air, with blood chemistry changes suggesting enhanced fat burning for energy.
Summary
This study had 10 healthy men perform high-intensity sprint exercises after breathing either hydrogen-rich gas or regular air for 60 minutes. Researchers measured blood chemicals before and after the exercise to understand how hydrogen might affect performance. Men who breathed hydrogen-rich gas showed better sprint power in later rounds, less fatigue between sprints, and changes in blood chemicals suggesting their bodies were burning more fat for energy.
Practical Takeaway
This small human study suggests hydrogen-rich gas inhalation may support performance during repeated intense exercise by improving energy availability. However, the study involved only 10 men and measured only one exercise session, so larger and longer studies would be needed to confirm whether this benefit applies more broadly or persists with regular use.
Abstract (excerpt)
(1) Background: The diversity of blood biomarkers used to assess the metabolic mechanisms of hydrogen limits a comprehensive understanding of its effects on improving exercise performance. This study evaluated the impact of hydrogen-rich gas (HRG) on metabolites following sprint-interval exercise…