Hydrogen Water Speeds Muscle Recovery in Elite Athletes After Training

TL;DR

Drinking hydrogen-rich water helped elite fin swimmers recover faster and feel less sore after intense training.

Key Finding

Hydrogen-rich water reduced muscle damage markers by 18% and decreased muscle soreness perception by 19% while improving jump height by 3% at 12 hours post-exercise in elite swimmers.

Summary

This study tested whether hydrogen-rich water (water infused with molecular hydrogen gas) could help elite swimmers recover better after two intense training sessions on the same day. Twelve competitive swimmers either drank hydrogen-rich water or a placebo for 4 days total, then performed a morning sprint workout and afternoon race. Compared to placebo, those who drank hydrogen-rich water showed less muscle damage (measured by a blood enzyme called creatine kinase), reported less muscle soreness, and had better jumping performance 12 hours after their afternoon session.

Practical Takeaway

This small study of elite athletes suggests hydrogen-rich water may support recovery after intense back-to-back workouts, though results were measured only at the 12-hour mark. The findings are promising but limited to a specific population (competitive swimmers) and a specific training scenario (two sessions in one day), so it's unclear how well these results would apply to other athletes or training patterns. More research in larger and more diverse groups would be needed to draw broader conclusions.

Abstract (excerpt)

Purpose: Molecular hydrogen has been shown to possess antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, ergogenic, and recovery-enhancing effects. This study aimed to assess the effect of molecular hydrogen administration on muscle performance, damage, and perception of soreness up to 24 h of recovery after two…

Read the full abstract via DOI