Hydrogen Water Improves Blood Sugar and Cholesterol in Diabetics
- Authors
- Sizuo Kajiyama, Goji Hasegawa, Mai Asano, Hiroko Hosoda, Michiaki Fukui, Naoto Nakamura, Jo Kitawaki, Saeko Imai, Koji Nakano, Mitsuhiro Ohta, Tetsuo Adachi, Hiroshi Obayashi, Toshikazu Yoshikawa
- Journal
- Nutrition Research
- Year
- 2008
- DOI
- 10.1016/j.nutres.2008.01.008
- Study Type
- Human
- Outcome
- Positive
- Peer Reviewed
- Yes
- Country
- Japan
- Health Condition
- Type 2 Diabetes
- Body System
- Endocrine
TL;DR
Drinking hydrogen-rich water might help improve blood sugar control and reduce heart disease risk factors in people with type 2 diabetes or high blood sugar levels.
Key Finding
Drinking 900 mL of hydrogen-rich water daily for 8 weeks reduced modified LDL cholesterol by 15.5%, small dense LDL by 5.7%, and urinary oxidative stress markers by 6.6% in patients with type 2 diabetes or impaired glucose tolerance.
Summary
Researchers tested whether drinking water enriched with hydrogen gas could help people with type 2 diabetes or prediabetes (impaired glucose tolerance). In a controlled study, 36 patients drank either hydrogen-rich water or plain water for 8 weeks. Those who drank hydrogen-rich water showed improvements in cholesterol levels, reduced markers of cellular damage from oxidative stress (a harmful chemical process in the body), and in 4 out of 6 prediabetic patients, their glucose tolerance test results normalized.
Practical Takeaway
This small human study suggests hydrogen-rich water may help reduce oxidative stress and improve cholesterol profiles in people with diabetes or prediabetes. However, the study involved only 36 people and lasted just 8 weeks, so larger and longer studies are needed before drawing firm conclusions. Anyone with diabetes considering hydrogen water should discuss it with their doctor, as it should complement—not replace—established treatments like medication and lifestyle changes.
Abstract (excerpt)
Oxidative stress is recognized widely as being associated with various disorders including diabetes, hypertension, and atherosclerosis. It is well established that hydrogen has a reducing action. We therefore investigated the effects of hydrogen-rich water intake on lipid and glucose metabolism…