Hydrogen Water Boosts Swimming Performance in Elite Athletes
- Authors
- Barbora Sládečková, Jakub Krejčí, Andrew McKune, David B Pyne, Robert Bajgar, Michal Botek
- Journal
- International Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance
- Year
- 2026
- DOI
- 10.1123/ijspp.2025-0492
- Study Type
- Human
- Outcome
- Positive
- Peer Reviewed
- Yes
- Country
- Czech Republic
- Health Condition
- Athletic Performance
- Body System
- Muscular
TL;DR
Four days of hydrogen-rich water modestly improved 400-m finswimming time-trial performance but did not significantly affect repeated sprint performance, lactate, perceived exertion, or protein carbonyl markers of oxidative stress.
Key Finding
Hydrogen-rich water supplementation improved 400-meter finswimming performance by 0.6% compared to placebo, but did not improve repeated sprint performance or reduce blood lactate, perceived exertion, or oxidative stress markers.
Summary
Researchers gave 12 competitive finswimmers (a sport involving swimming with fins) either hydrogen-rich water or a placebo drink for 4 days, then tested their performance on sprints and a 400-meter time trial. The hydrogen-rich water produced a small improvement (0.6%) in the 400-meter swim, but did not improve shorter sprint times or reduce markers of muscle fatigue and stress in the blood.
Practical Takeaway
This small study in elite finswimmers suggests hydrogen-rich water may offer a tiny performance edge in middle-distance swimming, though the improvement is modest and the mechanism remains unclear. The results are limited to a specific sport and small group, so it's uncertain whether findings would apply to other athletes or activities. The lack of changes in measured fatigue markers raises questions about how the improvement actually occurs.
Abstract
Purpose: We investigated whether a 4-day intake of hydrogen-rich water (HRW) improves finswimming performance and alters physiological and perceptual markers including blood lactate, rating of perceived exertion, and oxidative stress. Methods: Eight females and 4 males, age 21 (5) and 19 (1) years, maximal oxygen consumption 45.0 (2.5) and 52.2 (1.7) mL·kg-1·min-1, performed 3 sets of 4 reps of 50-m surface finswimming sprints in a morning session, and a 400-m surface time trial in the afternoon on the same day. Participants consumed either HRW (hydrogen concentration 0.9 ppm) or placebo, starting 3 days prior to the experimental sessions. Intake was 1260 mL per day for 3 days, and 1680 mL on the day before the 400-m time trial. After each 4 × 50-m set and 400-m trial, blood lactate and rating of perceived exertion were measured. Oxidative stress was evaluated by plasma protein carbonyls at scheduled time points. After a 1-week washout period, the experiment was repeated with participants receiving the alternate intervention. Clinical trials registration: NCT05799911. Results: HRW did not significantly improve morning 50-m sprint times (0.5%, P = .12) but afternoon 400-m time trial was improved by 0.6% (P = .003). The differences between HRW and placebo administration on blood lactate, rating of perceived exertion, and protein carbonyls were not significant (all P ≥ .12). Conclusions: Short-term HRW supplementation provides a modest yet meaningful performance improvement of 0.6% in middle-distance (400-m surface) finswimming. However, its effects on repeated sprint performance, blood lactate, perceived exertion, and oxidative stress appear limited.