Molecular hydrogen affects body composition, metabolic profiles, and mitochondrial function in middle-aged overweight women

Authors
Journal
Irish Journal of Medical Science
Year
DOI
10.1007/s11845-017-1638-4
Study Type
Human
Outcome
Positive
Peer Reviewed
Yes
Country
Serbia
Health Condition
Obesity
Body System
Endocrine System

TL;DR

Drinking a mineral mixture that releases hydrogen gas may help reduce body fat and improve blood fat levels without side effects in overweight women.

Key Finding

Molecular hydrogen supplementation reduced body fat percentage by 3.2% and arm fat index by 9.7%, and lowered triglycerides by 21.3% compared to placebo over 4 weeks.

Summary

This small study tested whether molecular hydrogen (a gas with potential health benefits) could help overweight middle-aged women improve their body composition and metabolism. Ten women took either hydrogen-generating mineral capsules or placebo for 4 weeks in a double-blind crossover trial. The hydrogen group showed reductions in body fat percentage and arm fat, along with improvements in triglycerides (a type of blood fat) and insulin levels, while the placebo group did not.

Practical Takeaway

This early evidence from a very small human study suggests hydrogen water may support modest improvements in body fat and metabolic markers in overweight women. However, the study lasted only 4 weeks with just 10 participants, so results are preliminary. Larger, longer studies are needed before drawing firm conclusions about whether hydrogen water could be useful for weight management.

Abstract

Background: Molecular hydrogen (H2) effectively treats obesity-related disorders in animal models, yet no studies have investigated the effectiveness and safety of H2 for improving biomarkers of obesity in humans. Aim: In this double blind, placebo-controlled, crossover pilot trial, we evaluated the effects of H2 intervention on body composition, hormonal status, and mitochondrial function in ten (n = 10) middle-aged overweight women. Methods: Volunteers received either hydrogen-generating minerals (supplying ~6 ppm of H2 per day) or placebo by oral administration of caplets for 4 weeks. The primary end-point of treatment efficacy was the change in the body fat percentage from baseline to 4 weeks. In addition, assessment of other body composition indices, screening laboratory studies, and evaluation of side effects were performed before and at follow-up. Clinical trial registration www.clinicaltrials.gov , ID number NCT02832219. Results: No significant differences were observed between treatment groups for changes in weight, body mass index, and body circumferences at 4-week follow-up (P > 0.05). H2 treatment significantly reduced body fat percentage (3.2 vs. 0.9%, P = 0.05) and arm fat index (9.7 vs. 6.0%, P = 0.01) compared to placebo administration, respectively. This was accompanied by a significant drop in serum triglycerides after H2 intervention comparing to placebo (21.3 vs. 6.5%; P = 0.04), while other blood lipids remained stable during the study (P > 0.05). Fasting serum insulin levels dropped by 5.4% after H2 administration, while placebo intervention augmented insulin response by 29.3% (P = 0.01). Conclusions: It appears that orally administered H2 as a blend of hydrogen-generating minerals might be a beneficial agent in the management of body composition and insulin resistance in obesity.