Hydrogen Water and Survival During Fasting in Fruit Flies
Hydrogen Water on Survival Rate after Fasting in Drosophila Model
Research hubs: Oxidative Stress
This research was done in animals. Results in animals often don't carry over to people.
- Evidence type
- Animal study (fruit fly)
- Authors
- Chung-Hsing Chao
- Journal
- Nutrition in Health and Disease - Our Challenges Now and Forthcoming Time
- Year
- 2019
- Study Type
- Fruit Fly
- Delivery
- Water (Electrolysis)
- Outcome
- Positive
- Peer Reviewed
- Yes
- Cited by
- 0 (OpenAlex, as of November 2026)
- Country
- Taiwan
TL;DR
Drinking hydrogen water may help fruit flies live longer when they haven't eaten by reducing harmful oxidative stress.
Key Finding
Fruit flies given hydrogen water survived longer during fasting periods than those without it, suggesting hydrogen may help protect cells from damage caused by starvation stress.
Summary
Researchers gave fruit flies hydrogen water (water infused with hydrogen gas) and then starved them to see if it would help them survive longer. When cells break down food, they create harmful molecules called free radicals that can damage the body. The study found that hydrogen water appeared to help starved flies survive longer, possibly by neutralizing these harmful free radicals. The benefit seemed to work for both weaker and stronger flies.
Practical Takeaway
This is an early-stage study in fruit flies only, so it cannot tell us whether hydrogen water would have similar effects in humans. While the results are interesting, much more research—including studies in mammals and humans—would be needed before drawing any conclusions about hydrogen water's usefulness for people facing metabolic stress or fasting.
Abstract (excerpt)
In this study, we use a Drosophila model to examine the effect of drinking hydrogen water on survival rate after fasting. The cells produce free radicals to help to absorb nutritious substances due to metabolism, which is a unique phenomenon for biological organisms. But if over the tension of free…