Hydrogen Water Improves Liver Health in Fatty Liver Disease Patients
The Effect of Adjuvant Therapy with Molecular Hydrogen on Endogenous Coenzyme Q10 Levels and Platelet Mitochondrial Bioenergetics in Patients with Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease
Research hubs: Digestive System
- Evidence type
- Controlled trial (non-randomized) · Human study
- Authors
- Zuzana Sumbalová, Jarmila Kucharská, Zuzana Rausová, Anna Gvozdjáková, Mária Szántová, Branislav Kura, Viliam Mojto, Ján Slezák
- Journal
- International Journal of Molecular Sciences
- Year
- 2023
- PMID
- 37569850
- Study Type
- Human
- Participants
- 30
- Delivery
- Gas (Sustained Release)
- Dose
- 3 × 330 mL/day hydrogen-rich water for 8 weeks
- H₂ concentration
- >4 mg/L H2
- Duration
- 8 weeks
- Funding
- Slovak Research and Development Agency (APVV-19-0317); Scientific Grant Agency of the Ministry of Education, Science, Research and Sport of the Slovak Republic and the Slovak Academy of Sciences (VEGA) 2/0063/18, 2/0092/222, 2/0148/22, grant 2018/7838:1-26C0; Grant of Ministry of Health of Slovak Republic: 2019/4-CEMSAV-1; HRW Natural Health Products Inc.; Operational Program Integrated Infrastructure (ITMS 313011T431)
- Conflicts of interest
- None declared
- Outcome
- Positive
- Peer Reviewed
- Yes
- Cited by
- 22 (OpenAlex, as of November 2026)
- Country
- Slovakia
TL;DR
Drinking hydrogen-rich water improved the health of cell powerhouses (mitochondria) and increased antioxidant levels in patients with a common liver condition not caused by alcohol.
Key Finding
Eight weeks of hydrogen-rich water supplementation increased coenzyme Q10 levels in platelets, improved how efficiently cells produce energy, and reduced oxidative stress markers in NAFLD patients compared to placebo.
Summary
This study tested whether drinking hydrogen-rich water could help patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD—a condition where fat builds up in the liver). Thirty NAFLD patients either drank hydrogen-rich water or placebo water for 8 weeks. Researchers measured coenzyme Q10 (a substance that helps cells produce energy), oxidative stress (cellular damage from harmful molecules), and how well the energy-producing structures in blood platelets were working. After 8 weeks, the hydrogen-rich water group showed improvements in all three measures compared to the placebo group.
Practical Takeaway
This small human study suggests hydrogen-rich water may support mitochondrial (cellular energy) function in people with fatty liver disease. However, the study lasted only 8 weeks and included just 30 patients, so longer and larger studies are needed to confirm whether these benefits persist and whether they translate to meaningful improvements in liver health or overall wellness.
Abstract (excerpt)
Molecular hydrogen (H2) has been recognized as a novel medical gas with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a liver pathology with increased fat accumulation in liver tissue caused by factors other than alcohol consumption. Platelet mitochondrial…