Hydrogen Water Improves Nutritional Quality of Goat Milk and Colostrum
- Authors
- Hilal Kanmaz, Didem Sahingil, Duried Alwazeer, Menekse Bulut, Mushap Kuru, Mustafa Makav, Buket Boga Kuru, Fikret Bektasoglu, Ali Adnan Hayaloglu
- Journal
- Food Chemistry
- Year
- 2025
- DOI
- 10.1016/j.foodchem.2025.143855
- Study Type
- Goat
- Outcome
- Positive
- Peer Reviewed
- Yes
- Country
- Turkey
- Health Condition
- Diabetes
- Body System
- Endocrine
TL;DR
Drinking hydrogen-rich water (HRW) affects the quality of goat milk, making it potentially healthier and richer in certain beneficial compounds.
Key Finding
Milk from goats consuming hydrogen-rich water showed increased antioxidant activity and greater ability to inhibit enzymes related to blood sugar control (α-amylase and α-glucosidase) compared to milk from goats drinking regular water.
Summary
Researchers gave goats either regular water or hydrogen-rich water (water infused with extra hydrogen molecules) for several weeks before and after giving birth, then analyzed their colostrum (first milk) and mature milk. They found that milk from goats drinking hydrogen-rich water had higher fat content, greater antioxidant activity (ability to reduce harmful molecules in the body), more compounds that may help control blood sugar, and different fatty acid profiles compared to milk from goats drinking regular water.
Practical Takeaway
This is an animal study in goats, not humans, so it cannot directly tell us whether drinking goat milk from hydrogen-rich water-fed animals would benefit human health. The findings suggest hydrogen-rich water may alter milk composition in ways that could be beneficial, but human studies would be needed to determine if these changes actually matter for people's health.
Abstract
This study aimed to investigate the effects of hydrogen-rich water (HRW) consumption in goats on the chemical composition, antioxidant activity, total phenolic content, in vitro antidiabetic activity (α-amylase and α-glucosidase inhibitions), free fatty acid profile, and volatile compounds of colostrum and mature milk. Goats were fed ad libitum with either normal water (NW) or HRW for 20-22 days before and 28 days after parturition. Colostrum and milk samples were collected from goats on the day of parturition, as well as on days 7, 14, 21, and 28 days. The milk fat content of goats fed with HRW was found to be higher compared to those fed with NW. On day 7, the total phenolic content was higher in the NW-fed milk compared to the HRW-fed milk. The ABTS radical scavenging activity of the HRW-fed colostrum was higher than NW. The inhibitory activity of α-amylase and α-glucosidase was higher in the HRW-fed milk. Some free fatty acids, including C2, C8, C10, C15, C18, and C20, increased in HRW-fed milk. Some volatile components were more abundant in the HRW-fed milk. The findings from this study may lead to new insights into the potential health benefits of milk from goats consuming HRW.