Hydrogen Water Reduces Muscle Fatigue in Athletes After Workouts
- Authors
- Behrooz Moraadi, Ebrahim Saberi, Ali Hasani, Arash Montazer Saheb
- Journal
- Health Biotechnology and Biopharma
- Year
- 2020
- DOI
- 10.22034/HBB.2020.28
- Study Type
- Human
- Outcome
- Positive
- Peer Reviewed
- Yes
- Country
- Iran
- Health Condition
- Exercise-Induced Muscle Fatigue
- Body System
- Muscular
TL;DR
Drinking hydrogen-rich water seems to reduce muscle fatigue in athletes after resistance training, compared to regular tap water.
Key Finding
Male athletes who drank hydrogen-rich water showed significantly lower lactic acid and lactate dehydrogenase levels after resistance exercise compared to those who drank tap water.
Summary
In a small study with 9 male athletes, researchers compared drinking hydrogen-rich water (water infused with hydrogen gas using an alkaline stick) versus regular tap water during resistance training. They measured three blood markers related to muscle fatigue and damage. The hydrogen-rich water group showed lower levels of lactic acid and lactate dehydrogenase (an enzyme released when muscles are stressed), but there was no difference in creatine kinase levels between the two groups.
Practical Takeaway
This small study suggests hydrogen-rich water may help reduce certain markers of exercise-induced fatigue in athletes, but the findings are preliminary—the study included only 9 participants and lacked details about how long they consumed the water. More research with larger groups and longer durations is needed before drawing firm conclusions about whether this translates to real improvements in athletic performance or recovery.
Abstract
In the double-blind study, the effect of drinking Hydrogen-Rich Water (HRW) producing by alkaline stick and tap water (placebo) on 9 male athletes in resistance training during 24 h were studied, and Lactate Dehydrogenase (LDH), Creatine Kinase (CPK) and Lactic Acid (LAC) levels in their blood samples were tested. The decrease of LAC and LDH values in the HRW group compared with the placebo were significant. However, the changes of CPK was not significant in neither of the experience. The results show that once drinking HRW has the appropriate effect on LAC decrease, LDH decrease and the resulted tiredness in resistance exercise. Henceforth, it could improve sport efficiency in professional athletes.