Hydrogen Water Helps Female Athletes Recover Faster After Exercise
- Authors
- P. Drid, T. Trivic, C. Casals, S. Trivic, M. Stojanovic, S.M. Ostojic
- Journal
- Science & Sports
- Year
- 2016
- DOI
- 10.1016/j.scispo.2016.04.010
- Study Type
- Human
- Outcome
- Positive
- Peer Reviewed
- Yes
- Country
- Serbia
- Health Condition
- Exercise-Induced Acidosis
- Body System
- Muscular
TL;DR
Drinking hydrogen-rich water before exercising may help female athletes maintain better blood pH levels after intense workouts, compared to regular water.
Key Finding
Hydrogen-rich water significantly reduced post-exercise blood acidity and lactate levels in female athletes compared to placebo water.
Summary
This study tested whether drinking hydrogen-rich water before exercise could help female judo athletes recover better. Eight young female athletes drank either hydrogen-rich water or regular water 30 minutes before intense exercise, then repeated the test 4 days later. The researchers measured blood acidity levels and lactate (a substance that builds up during hard exercise) after workouts. Hydrogen-rich water did reduce post-exercise blood acidity and lactate levels compared to placebo, with no side effects reported.
Practical Takeaway
This small study in female judo athletes suggests hydrogen-rich water may help reduce exercise-induced acidosis, but the sample size of only 8 people is very limited. Larger studies would be needed to confirm whether this benefit applies to other athletes or types of exercise, and to determine optimal dosing. The safety profile appears good based on this research.
Abstract (excerpt)
Summary Objectives The purpose of this double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled crossover study was to determine the effects of pre-exercise hydrogen-rich water intake on biomarkers of acid-base homeostasis and post-exercise recovery in female athletes. Methods Eight young female judo athletes…