Hydrogen Water Improves Chicken Health and Gut Function in New Study
- Authors
- Lin Dai, Baowei Wang, Wenlei Fan, Xiaokun Li, Xingchen Zhao, Mingai Zhang, Zhigang Fan, Yuanzhao Wu, Binghan Wang, Min Kong
- Journal
- Poultry Science
- Year
- 2026
- DOI
- 10.1016/j.psj.2026.106640
- Study Type
- Chicken
- Outcome
- Positive
- Peer Reviewed
- Yes
- Country
- China
- Health Condition
- Oxidative Stress
- Body System
- Digestive
TL;DR
Oligomeric ultranano hydrogen water improved antioxidant capacity, gut development, and microbiome diversity in chickens without affecting growth or immune markers.
Key Finding
Hydrogen water supplementation significantly increased antioxidant enzyme activity and improved intestinal structure in growing chickens, while also increasing the diversity of beneficial gut bacteria.
Summary
Researchers gave young chickens either regular drinking water or water enriched with hydrogen molecules for 12 weeks to see if it affected their growth, immune function, and gut health. The hydrogen water didn't change how much the chickens ate or grew, but it did improve how uniform the flock was in size, boosted certain antioxidant enzymes (natural protective substances in the body), improved the structure of their intestines, and increased the diversity of bacteria in their digestive systems.
Practical Takeaway
This study was conducted in chickens, not humans, so its relevance to people is unclear. The results suggest hydrogen water may support antioxidant defenses and gut health, but much more research in humans would be needed before drawing any conclusions about potential benefits for people. Early evidence in animals indicates possible effects on intestinal development and microbial balance, but this remains preliminary.
Abstract
This study evaluated the effects of oligomeric ultranano hydrogen water (OUHW) supplementation on growth performance, immune function, intestinal development, gut microbiota, and metabolic profiles in growing layer-type chickens. A total of 96 healthy chicks were randomly assigned to two treatments (six replicates per treatment, eight birds per replicate): a control group (CON) receiving standard drinking water and an OUHW group, with a 12-week experimental period. OUHW supplementation did not significantly affect average daily feed intake (ADFI), average daily gain (ADG), or feed-to-gain ratio (F/G) (P > 0.05); however, flock uniformity was significantly improved (P 0.05). Antioxidant capacity was enhanced in the OUHW group, as evidenced by significantly increased serum activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) (P 0.05). Furthermore, OUHW supplementation did not significantly alter serum concentrations of immunoglobulin A (IgA), IgG, or IgM, nor jejunal levels of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-2, IL-4, or secretory IgA (P > 0.05). In contrast, ileal villus height (VH) and the villus height-to-crypt depth ratio (VH/CD) were significantly increased in the OUHW group (P < 0.05), indicating improved intestinal development. Cecal microbiota analysis revealed greater microbial richness and diversity in OUHW-treated birds, accompanied by significant shifts in community composition, including enrichment of Firmicutes and Ruminiclostridium (P < 0.05). Metabolomic analysis identified 356 differential metabolites, with enriched pathways related to autophagy, riboflavin metabolism, and vitamin digestion and absorption.