Hydrogen Water May Preserve Liver Energy During Exercise in Rats
- Authors
- Takuji Kawamura, Ryosuke Fujii, Kazuhiko Higashida, Isao Muraoka
- Journal
- Gazzetta Medica Italiana Archivio per le Scienze Mediche
- Year
- 2019
- DOI
- 10.23736/S0393-3660.18.03912-8
- Study Type
- Rat
- Outcome
- Neutral
- Peer Reviewed
- Yes
- Country
- Japan
- Health Condition
- Exercise Performance
- Body System
- Hepatic
TL;DR
Drinking hydrogen-enriched water for two weeks did not improve exercise performance or change most body markers related to energy and recovery, but it might help conserve energy stores in the liver during exercise.
Key Finding
Hydrogen water did not reduce oxidative stress markers or improve exercise performance in rats, but it did appear to preserve liver glycogen (stored energy) during exercise.
Summary
Researchers gave rats hydrogen water for 2 weeks and then tested how it affected their bodies during exercise. They measured markers of cellular damage (oxidative stress), energy sources in the blood, and stored energy (glycogen) in muscles and liver. Hydrogen water did not reduce cellular damage markers or change blood energy levels, but the rats that drank hydrogen water had more stored energy remaining in their livers after exercise compared to rats that drank regular water.
Practical Takeaway
This is an early-stage rat study that did not find the antioxidant benefits of hydrogen water that some research has suggested. The preservation of liver glycogen is interesting but occurred without any measurable benefit to exercise performance or cellular protection. More research in humans would be needed to determine if these findings have any practical relevance for people interested in hydrogen water.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Studies have revealed that molecular hydrogen (H2) exhibits therapeutic effects against various diseases through biological activities such as antioxidation. However, little is known about the effects of H2 on redox biomarkers and related indicators during exercise. Therefore, we examined whether 2 weeks of H2 water intake could affect the redox biomarkers, energy metabolism, and performance level of rats during endurance exercise. METHODS: Male Sprague-Dawley rats (N.=32) were randomly divided into four groups: control (C), control-exercise (C-Ex), H2 water (H2), and H2 water-exercise (H2-Ex). Each group was given mineral water (C and C-Ex) or H2 water (H2 and H2-Ex) ad libitum for 2 weeks. Then the C-Ex and H2-Ex groups were subjected to an exercise performance test. Blood, skeletal muscle, and liver samples were analysed for redox biomarkers, blood energy substrates, and tissue glycogen contents. RESULTS: Two-way ANOVA revealed that H2 water intake did not affect redox biomarkers (thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances, protein carbonyl, and total antioxidant capacity), blood energy substrates (lactate, glucose, free fatty acid, and triglyceride), and muscle glycogen content. However, liver glycogen content was significantly higher in the H2-Ex group than in the C-Ex group (P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that 2 weeks of H2 water intake did not affect redox biomarkers, blood energy substrates, muscle glycogen content, and performance level during endurance exercise: however, it may slightly suppress liver glycogen utilization during exercise.