Hydrogen Water Improves Blood Sugar in Pre-Diabetic Patients
- Authors
- Bing Liang, Le Shi, Dongyue Du, Hua Li, Ning Yi, Yue Xi, Jianjiao Cui, Ping Li, Hongbin Kang, Mami Noda, Xuejun Sun, Jiankang Liu, Shucun Qin, Jiangang Long
- Journal
- Antioxidants
- Year
- 2023
- DOI
- 10.3390/antiox12061245
- Study Type
- Human
- Outcome
- Positive
- Peer Reviewed
- Yes
- Country
- China
- Health Condition
- Impaired Fasting Glucose
- Body System
- Endocrine
TL;DR
Drinking hydrogen-rich water (HRW) slightly improved blood sugar levels and gut health in people with higher-than-normal fasting blood sugar.
Key Finding
Hydrogen-rich water produced greater reductions in fasting blood glucose and higher fatty liver remission rates (62.5% vs. 31.6%) compared to placebo water in people with impaired fasting glucose, with effects potentially linked to changes in gut bacteria composition.
Summary
This study tested whether drinking hydrogen-rich water could help people with impaired fasting glucose (higher-than-normal blood sugar levels when fasting). Seventy-three patients drank either hydrogen-rich water or regular water for eight weeks. The hydrogen-rich water group showed greater reductions in fasting blood glucose and higher rates of fatty liver improvement compared to the placebo group. The researchers also found that hydrogen water changed the composition of gut bacteria (microbiota) in ways that correlated with improvements in metabolic markers.
Practical Takeaway
This human study suggests hydrogen-rich water may modestly support blood sugar regulation and metabolic health in people with impaired fasting glucose, though improvements were small. However, this is an early-stage finding from a single study; larger and longer studies are needed before drawing firm conclusions about whether hydrogen water should be used as a treatment for glucose or metabolic issues.
Abstract (excerpt)
Objective: Molecular hydrogen (H2) exhibits antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptotic effects, and has shown benefits in glucose and lipid metabolism in certain animal metabolic disorder models. However, the potential benefits of H2 treatment in individuals with impaired fasting glucose…