Hydrogen Water Shows Promise for Muscle Disease Treatment
Open-label trial and randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover trial of hydrogen-enriched water for mitochondrial and inflammatory myopathies
- Authors
- Mikako Ito, Tohru Ibi, Ko Sahashi, Masashi Ichihara, Masafumi Ito, Kinji Ohno
- Journal
- Medical Gas Research
- Year
- 2011
- PMID
- 22146674
- Study Type
- Human
- Participants
- 48
- Delivery
- Water (Electrolysis)
- Dose
- Open-label: 1.0 liter per day for 12 weeks; Double-blind: 0.5 liter per day for 8 weeks
- H₂ concentration
- ~0.5 ppm
- Duration
- 8 weeks
- Funding
- Ministry of Health, Labor, and Welfare of Japan; Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science, and Technology of Japan
- Conflicts of interest
- None declared
- Outcome
- Positive
- Peer Reviewed
- Yes
- Cited by
- 80 (OpenAlex, as of November 2026)
- Country
- Japan
TL;DR
Drinking hydrogen-enriched water showed potential benefits for muscle and mitochondrial diseases without causing harm, although improvements were not consistent across all measurements.
Key Finding
Hydrogen-enriched water produced measurable improvements in blood markers of mitochondrial dysfunction and inflammation in patients with muscle diseases, though no visible improvement in muscle symptoms was observed.
Summary
Researchers tested hydrogen-enriched water in patients with three types of muscle diseases: progressive muscular dystrophy, polymyositis/dermatomyositis, and mitochondrial myopathies. In a small open-label study (14 patients) and a double-blind controlled study (22 patients), drinking hydrogen water for 8-12 weeks did not visibly improve muscle symptoms, but blood tests showed improvements in lactate levels (a marker of muscle cell energy problems), blood sugar control, and inflammatory markers.
Practical Takeaway
This early human evidence suggests hydrogen water may affect biochemical markers related to muscle disease, but the studies were very small and did not show clinical symptom improvement. The researchers note that higher doses and longer treatment periods may be needed; more research is required before drawing conclusions about whether hydrogen water could help people with these conditions.
Abstract (excerpt)
Background: Molecular hydrogen has prominent effects on more than 30 animal models especially of oxidative stress-mediated diseases and inflammatory diseases. In addition, hydrogen effects on humans have been reported in diabetes mellitus type 2, hemodialysis, metabolic syndrome, radiotherapy…