Hydrogen Water Improves Blood Protein Health in Dialysis Patients
Improvement of the fraction of human mercaptalbumin on hemodialysis treatment using hydrogen-dissolved hemodialysis fluid: a prospective observational study
Research hubs: Cardiovascular System
- Evidence type
- Observational study · Human study
- Authors
- Kenji Maeda, Shigehito Yoshizaki, Toshiro Iida, Tomoyoshi Terada, Seiichi Era, Keiichiro Sakashita, Hajime Arikawa
- Journal
- Renal Replacement Therapy
- Year
- 2016
- Study Type
- Human
- Participants
- 74
- Delivery
- Solution (Dissolved)
- Dose
- Hydrogen-dissolved hemodialysis fluid via EW-C81-HD for 6 months
- Duration
- 6 months
- Outcome
- Positive
- Peer Reviewed
- Yes
- Cited by
- 12 (OpenAlex, as of November 2026)
- Country
- Japan
TL;DR
Using hydrogen-enriched water for long-term hemodialysis treatment may improve the antioxidant status of patients' blood.
Key Finding
Patients treated with hydrogen-dissolved hemodialysis fluid for 6 months showed a significant increase in protective albumin levels, rising from 51% to 58% before dialysis and from 72% to 76% after dialysis, approaching the 79% levels seen in healthy subjects.
Summary
This study tested whether hemodialysis fluid containing dissolved hydrogen could improve a marker of oxidative stress (cellular damage from unstable molecules) in kidney dialysis patients. Twelve patients received hydrogen-enriched dialysis fluid for 6 months, and researchers measured a specific form of albumin (a blood protein) that indicates protection against oxidative stress. After 6 months, this protective form of albumin increased significantly in the hydrogen-treated group, approaching levels seen in healthy people.
Practical Takeaway
This small human study suggests that hydrogen-enriched dialysis fluid may help reduce oxidative stress markers in kidney dialysis patients over 6 months. However, the study included only 12 patients and did not measure whether this improvement actually reduces heart disease risk or improves patient outcomes—only that a specific blood marker improved. More research is needed to determine if these changes translate to real health benefits.
Abstract (excerpt)
Background Oxidative stress (OS) is said to increase in hemodialysis therapy, so that the electrolyzed water-hemodialysis (EW-HD) dissolving hydrogen in hemodialysis fluid has been tried for the reduction of OS. It is reported that the risk of cardiovascular disease events increased if the fraction…