Hydrogen Water Shows Anti-Aging Effects in Adults Over 70
The effects of 6-month hydrogen-rich water intake on molecular and phenotypic biomarkers of aging in older adults aged 70 years and over: A randomized controlled pilot trial
Research hubs: Sleep Quality · Brain & Nervous System · Musculoskeletal System
- Evidence type
- Randomized controlled trial · Human study
- Authors
- Dragana Zanini, Nikola Todorovic, Darinka Korovljev, Valdemar Stajer, Jelena Ostojic, Jelena Purac, Danijela Kojic, Elvira Vukasinovic, Srdjana Djordjievski, Miron Sopic, Azra Guzonjic, Ana Ninic, Sanja Erceg, Sergej M. Ostojic
- Journal
- Experimental Gerontology
- Year
- 2021
- PMID
- 34601077
- Study Type
- Human
- Participants
- 40
- Delivery
- Water (Mg-Chemico)
- Dose
- 0.5 L per day of hydrogen-rich water for 6 months
- H₂ concentration
- 15 ppm
- Duration
- 6 months
- Outcome
- Positive
- Peer Reviewed
- Yes
- Cited by
- 39 (OpenAlex, as of November 2026)
- Country
- Serbia
TL;DR
Drinking hydrogen-rich water (HRW) for six months appeared to have positive effects on certain aging markers in the blood and brain of older adults, suggesting potential anti-aging benefits.
Key Finding
After 6 months, older adults drinking hydrogen-rich water showed increased telomere length and improved brain metabolism markers, while the control group showed decreases in these same measures.
Summary
In this 6-month study, 40 adults over age 70 drank either hydrogen-rich water or regular water daily. Researchers measured various aging-related markers in blood, brain, physical function, and other areas. The hydrogen-rich water group showed improvements in telomere length (protective caps on DNA), certain DNA methylation markers (chemical tags on genes), brain metabolism, and the ability to stand from a chair, compared to the control group.
Practical Takeaway
This small pilot study suggests hydrogen-rich water may support some aging-related markers in older adults, but the results are preliminary. The study included only 40 people and measured many different outcomes, so larger, focused studies are needed before drawing firm conclusions about whether hydrogen water provides meaningful anti-aging benefits for everyday use.
Abstract (excerpt)
In this randomized controlled pilot trial, we investigated the effects of a 6-month intake of hydrogen-rich water (HRW) on several molecular and phenotypic biomarkers of aging in older adults aged 70 years and over. Forty older adults (20 women) were randomly allocated in a parallel-group design…