Hydrogen Water Doesn't Help COVID-19 Patients Recover Faster
Molecular Hydrogen for Outpatients with COVID-19 (Hydro-COVID): A Phase 3 Randomised, Triple-Blinded, Pragmatic, Placebo-Controlled, Multicentre Trial
Research hubs: Respiratory System
- Evidence type
- Randomized controlled trial · Human study
- Authors
- Yoann Gaboreau, Aleksandra Milovančev, Carole Rolland, Claire Eychenne, Jean-Pierre Alcaraz, Cordelia Ihl, Roseline Mazet, François Boucher, Celine Vermorel, Sergej M. Ostojic, Jean-Christian Borel, Philippe Cinquin, Jean-Luc Bosson
- Journal
- Journal of Clinical Medicine
- Year
- 2024
- PMID
- 39124575
- Study Type
- Human
- Participants
- 675
- Delivery
- Water (Electrolysis)
- Dose
- Hydrogen-rich water twice daily for 21 days
- Duration
- 30 days
- Funding
- Drink HRW; TIMC; University of Grenoble-Alpes Foundation; Agiradom Association; AG2R; AGdermi Association
- Conflicts of interest
- None declared
- Outcome
- Neutral
- Peer Reviewed
- Yes
- Cited by
- 3 (OpenAlex, as of November 2026)
- Country
- France
TL;DR
Drinking hydrogen-rich water did not help patients with mild-to-moderate COVID-19 get better.
Key Finding
Hydrogen-rich water taken twice daily for 21 days did not prevent clinical worsening in outpatients with mild-to-moderate COVID-19 compared to placebo.
Summary
Researchers tested whether hydrogen-rich water could help prevent COVID-19 from getting worse in people with mild-to-moderate cases. Over 675 patients took either hydrogen-rich water or a placebo (inactive substance) twice daily for 21 days starting within 5 days of symptom onset. The study found that hydrogen-rich water was no better than placebo at preventing clinical worsening, with similar rates of side effects in both groups.
Practical Takeaway
This large, well-designed human trial found no clinical benefit of hydrogen-rich water for COVID-19 progression, despite hydrogen's known antioxidant properties in laboratory settings. While the study was rigorous, it specifically tested mild-to-moderate cases in outpatient settings, so results may not apply to severe COVID-19 or other conditions. Current evidence does not support hydrogen-rich water as a treatment for COVID-19.
Abstract (excerpt)
Background. Due to its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-apoptosis, and anti-fatigue properties, molecular hydrogen (H2) is potentially a novel therapeutic nutrient for patients with coronavirus acute disease 2019 (COVID-19). We determined the efficacy and safety profile of hydrogen-rich water…