Hydrogen Water May Preserve Liver Energy During Exercise in Rats
Hydrogen water intake may suppress liver glycogen utilization without affecting redox biomarkers during exercise in rats
This research was done in animals. Results in animals often don't carry over to people.
- Evidence type
- Animal study (rat)
- Authors
- Takuji Kawamura, Ryosuke Fujii, Kazuhiko Higashida, Isao Muraoka
- Journal
- Gazzetta Medica Italiana Archivio per le Scienze Mediche
- Year
- 2019
- Study Type
- Rat
- Participants
- 32
- Delivery
- Water (Electrolysis)
- Dose
- H2 water ad libitum for 2 weeks
- Duration
- 2 weeks
- Outcome
- Neutral
- Peer Reviewed
- Yes
- Country
- Japan
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 (excerpt)
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…