Molecular hydrogen affects body composition, metabolic profiles, and mitochondrial function in middle-aged overweight women
- Authors
- Darinka Korovljev, T. Trivic, P. Drid, Sergej M. Ostojic
- Journal
- Irish Journal of Medical Science
- Year
- 2018
- 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 (excerpt)
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…