Hydrogen Supplement Boosts High-Intensity Exercise Performance
- Authors
- Ahad Abdulkarim D. Alharbi, Noriaki Iwamoto, Naoyuki Ebine, Satoshi Nakae, Tatsuya Hojo, Yoshiyuki Fukuoka
- Journal
- Nutrients
- Year
- 2022
- DOI
- 10.3390/nu14193974
- Study Type
- Human
- Outcome
- Positive
- Peer Reviewed
- Yes
- Country
- Japan
- Health Condition
- Exercise Performance
- Body System
- Muscular
TL;DR
Taking a single dose of a hydrogen-rich supplement before exercise may boost performance during high-intensity workouts and help muscles recover faster.
Key Finding
A single dose of hydrogen-rich calcium powder increased peak power output by about 23 watts during the first high-intensity exercise bout and enhanced muscle oxygen extraction compared to placebo.
Summary
This study tested whether a single dose of hydrogen-rich supplement taken before exercise could improve high-intensity interval training (HIIT) performance in 10 trained athletes. Researchers measured muscle oxygen levels and power output during intense cycling bursts. The hydrogen supplement group produced more peak power in the first exercise bout and showed better oxygen extraction in their muscles compared to the placebo group, though heart rate responses were similar between groups.
Practical Takeaway
This small human study suggests hydrogen supplementation may support short-term performance during intense exercise, but the findings are based on just 10 trained athletes receiving a single dose. Larger studies are needed to confirm whether these benefits persist with repeated use or apply to untrained individuals and different exercise types.
Abstract (excerpt)
This research examined the effects of single-dose molecular hydrogen (H2) supplements on acid-base status and local muscle deoxygenation during rest, high-intensity intermittent training (HIIT) performance, and recovery. Ten healthy, trained subjects in a randomized, double-blind, crossover design…