Alkaline Hydrogen Water Shows Promise for Diabetes and Heart Health

TL;DR

Scientists studied a special type of water made by running electricity through tap water, and they found it might help people with diabetes and heart problems feel better and have fewer health issues. The water seems to work by helping your body fight off harmful stuff that damages cells and makes blood flow better.

Key Finding

Electrolyzed-reduced alkaline water may increase superoxide dismutase activity (an enzyme that protects against cellular damage) and reduce blood cell aggregation, with observational evidence suggesting potential benefits for diabetes, kidney disease, and cardiovascular health.

Summary

This review summarizes research on alkaline water created through electrolysis (a process using electrical current to treat water). The water has different chemical properties than regular tap water, including a higher negative charge. Studies suggest it may help people with diabetes and kidney disease, increase production of an enzyme that protects cells from damage, and reduce blood cell clumping. However, most evidence comes from observations rather than rigorous controlled experiments.

Practical Takeaway

While this review identifies promising patterns in published studies, the evidence is primarily observational rather than from rigorous controlled trials. The sample sizes and study durations are not clearly reported, and human trials appear limited or absent. More rigorous clinical research would be needed before drawing firm conclusions about health benefits for consumers.

Abstract (excerpt)

Municipal drinking water, prefiltered and treated by partial electrolysis, followed by collecting the cathodic water that is alkaline (pH 8.5 to 9.5), shows a high negative oxidative reductive potential (ORP) (-150 to -250 mV) compared to untreated tap water (+150 mV) as well as smaller molecular…

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