Hydrogen Water Reduces Liver Fat in NAFLD Patients
- Authors
- Darinka Korovljev, Valdemar Stajer, Jelena Ostojic, Tyler W. LeBaron, Sergej M. Ostojic
- Journal
- Clinics and Research in Hepatology and Gastroenterology
- Year
- 2019
- DOI
- 10.1016/j.clinre.2019.03.008
- Study Type
- Human
- Outcome
- Positive
- Peer Reviewed
- Yes
- Country
- Serbia
- Health Condition
- Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease
- Body System
- Hepatic
TL;DR
Drinking hydrogen-rich water for 28 days may help reduce liver fat in people with a mild-to-moderate form of liver disease not caused by alcohol.
Key Finding
Hydrogen-rich water reduced liver fat accumulation by approximately 2.9% and improved liver enzyme profiles in patients with mild-to-moderate non-alcoholic fatty liver disease after 28 days, compared to placebo.
Summary
This small study tested whether drinking hydrogen-rich water (water infused with molecular hydrogen, a gas) could help people with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (a condition where fat builds up in the liver without alcohol being the cause). Twelve overweight patients drank either hydrogen-rich water or regular water for 28 days. The hydrogen-rich water group showed a modest reduction in liver fat (about 2.9% decrease) and some improvement in liver enzyme levels compared to the placebo group, though weight and body composition didn't change significantly.
Practical Takeaway
This early-stage human study suggests hydrogen-rich water may help reduce liver fat in people with fatty liver disease, but the sample size was very small (12 people) and the effect was modest. Much larger studies are needed before hydrogen-rich water could be recommended as a treatment. Anyone with fatty liver disease should consult their doctor before trying hydrogen water or making any dietary changes.
Abstract
Background and aims: While non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is rapidly becoming the most common liver disease worldwide, its treatment remains elusive. Since metabolic impairment plays a major role in NAFLD pathogenesis, any pharmaceuticals, such as molecular hydrogen (H2), that advance lipid and glucose metabolism could be appropriate to tackle this complex condition. The aim of this study was to analyze the effects of 28-day hydrogen-rich water intake on liver fat deposition, body composition and lab chemistry profiles in overweight patients suffering from mild-to-moderate NAFLD. Methods: Twelve overweight outpatients with NAFLD (age 56.2 ± 10.0 years; body mass index 37.7 ± 5.3 kg/m2; 7 women and 5 men) voluntarily participated in this double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover trial. All patients were allocated to receive either 1 L per day of hydrogen-rich water (HRW) or placebo water for 28 days. The study was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (ID NCT03625362). Results: Dual-echo MRI revealed that HRW significantly reduced liver fat accumulation in individual liver regions-of-interest at 28-day follow-up, as compared to placebo administration (P < 0.05). Baseline liver fat content was reduced from 284.0 ± 118.1 mM to 256.5 ± 108.3 mM after hydrogen treatment at 28-day follow-up (percent change 2.9%; 95% CI from 0.5 to 5.5). Serum aspartate transaminase levels dropped by 10.0% (95% CI; from -23.2 to 3.4) after hydrogen treatment at 28-day follow-up. No significant differences were observed between treatment groups in either weight or body composition among participants. Conclusions: Although preliminary, the results of this trial perhaps nominate HRW as an adjuvant treatment for mild-to-moderate NAFLD. These observations provide a rationale for further clinical trials to establish safety and efficacy of molecular hydrogen in NAFLD.