Hydrogen Gas Boosts Fat Burning During Rest in Healthy Women
Molecular hydrogen inhalation modulates resting metabolism in healthy females: findings from a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover study
Research hubs: Respiratory System · Endocrine System
- Evidence type
- Randomized controlled trial · Human study
- Authors
- Pavel Grepl, Michal Botek, Jakub Krejčí, Andrew McKune
- Journal
- Medical Gas Research
- Year
- 2025
- PMID
- 39923133
- Study Type
- Human
- Participants
- 20
- Delivery
- Gas
- Dose
- 60 minutes of molecular hydrogen inhalation at 300 mL/min through nasal cannula
- H₂ concentration
- 300 mL/min
- Duration
- 1 day or less
- Funding
- Palacký University Olomouc (IGA FTK 2022_013)
- Conflicts of interest
- Author MB is an external research consultant of H2 Global Group (Ostrava, Czech Republic)
- Outcome
- Positive
- Peer Reviewed
- Yes
- Cited by
- 5 (OpenAlex, as of November 2026)
- Country
- Czech Republic
TL;DR
Breathing in molecular hydrogen for an hour helped increase fat burning in physically active women, especially those with more body fat.
Key Finding
One hour of hydrogen gas inhalation shifted the body toward burning more fat for energy at rest, with the effect being more pronounced in individuals with higher body fat percentages.
Summary
This study tested whether breathing hydrogen gas for one hour would change how the body burns calories and fat. Twenty healthy young women either breathed hydrogen gas or regular air while resting, and researchers measured their metabolism using a special breathing test. The women who breathed hydrogen gas showed signs of burning more fat and less carbohydrate for energy compared to those who breathed regular air, and this effect was stronger in women with higher body fat percentages.
Practical Takeaway
This small study in healthy young women suggests hydrogen inhalation may modestly increase fat oxidation during rest, but the findings are preliminary and limited to a specific population. More research is needed to determine whether this metabolic shift translates to meaningful health benefits, whether it persists with repeated use, or whether it applies to other age groups and fitness levels.
Abstract (excerpt)
Initially, molecular hydrogen was considered a physiologically inert and non-functional gas. However, experimental and clinical studies have shown that molecular hydrogen has anti-inflammatory, anti-apoptotic, and strong selective antioxidant effects. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of 60…