Hydrogen Water Reduces Anxiety and Stress in Daily Life Study
Hydrogen-rich water for improvements of mood, anxiety, and autonomic nerve function in daily life
Research hubs: Sleep Quality · Brain & Nervous System
- Evidence type
- Randomized controlled trial · Human study
- Authors
- Yasuyoshi Watanabe, Kei Mizuno, AkihiroT Sasaki, Kyoko Ebisu, Kanako Tajima, Osami Kajimoto, Junzo Nojima, Hirohiko Kuratsune, Hiroshi Hori
- Journal
- Medical Gas Research
- Year
- 2018
- PMID
- 29497485
- Study Type
- Human
- Participants
- 26
- Delivery
- Water (Dissolved)
- Dose
- 600 mL/day for 4 weeks
- H₂ concentration
- 0.8–1.2 ppm
- Duration
- 4 weeks
- Funding
- Melodian Corporation
- Conflicts of interest
- Yasuyoshi Watanabe received funding from Melodian Corporation, which supplied the hydrogen-rich water intervention.
- Outcome
- Positive
- Peer Reviewed
- Yes
- Cited by
- 87 (OpenAlex, as of November 2026)
- Country
- Japan
TL;DR
Drinking hydrogen-rich water might improve quality of life by reducing stress and anxiety levels and enhancing brain function.
Key Finding
Hydrogen-rich water reduced anxiety scores and resting sympathetic nerve activity (a marker of stress response) more than placebo in healthy adults over 4 weeks.
Summary
This study tested whether drinking hydrogen-rich water (water infused with hydrogen gas) could improve mood, anxiety, and nervous system function in healthy adults. Over 4 weeks, 26 volunteers drank either 600 mL of hydrogen-rich water or regular water daily. Those who drank hydrogen-rich water showed lower anxiety scores and reduced stress-related nerve activity compared to the placebo group, suggesting the treatment may help the body handle daily stress better.
Practical Takeaway
This small, short-term study suggests hydrogen-rich water may help with stress and anxiety in healthy people, but the findings are preliminary. Larger studies with longer follow-up are needed before drawing firm conclusions about real-world benefits. If you're considering trying hydrogen water, discuss it with a healthcare provider, especially if you take medications or have existing health conditions.
Abstract (excerpt)
Health and a vibrant life are sought by everyone. To improve quality of life (QOL), maintain a healthy state, and prevent various diseases, evaluations of the effects of potentially QOL-increasing factors are important. Chronic oxidative stress and inflammation cause deteriorations in central…