Hydrogen Water Blocks Cell Damage from Free Radicals in Lab Study
The Suppressive Effect of Electrolyzed Reduced Water on Lipid Peroxidation
Research hubs: Oxidative Stress · Immune System
This research was done on cells or tissue in a lab, not in people or animals.

- Evidence type
- Laboratory study (cells or tissue)
- Authors
- T. Hamasaki, Y. Sugihara, K. Teruya, S. Kabayama, Y. Katakura, K. Otsubo, S. Morisawa, S. Shirahata
- Journal
- Animal Cell Technology: Basic & Applied Aspects
- Year
- 2003
- Study Type
- Cell Culture
- Delivery
- Water (Electrolysis)
- Outcome
- Positive
- Peer Reviewed
- Yes
- Cited by
- 1 (OpenAlex, as of November 2026)
- Country
- Japan
TL;DR
Water treated through a process called electrolysis, which contains tiny particles of platinum, can help prevent the damaging effects of certain reactive molecules on fats within cells.
Key Finding
Platinum nanocolloids (tiny metal particles) in electrolyzed reduced water suppressed lipid peroxidation in a concentration-dependent manner in both laboratory and cell culture experiments.
Summary
Researchers tested electrolyzed reduced water (water treated with electricity to add hydrogen) to see if it could reduce lipid peroxidation—a type of damage that occurs when fats in cells are exposed to harmful molecules called free radicals. In laboratory tests and cell cultures, the water did reduce this damage, and the researchers found that tiny platinum particles in the water were responsible for this protective effect.
Practical Takeaway
This is early laboratory research in cells, not human studies, so it's too preliminary to draw conclusions about health benefits from drinking hydrogen water. The findings suggest that platinum particles—not hydrogen itself—may be responsible for any antioxidant effects observed, which raises questions about whether commercial hydrogen water products (which typically don't contain platinum) would have similar effects.
Abstract (excerpt)
We examined the suppressive effect on lipid peroxidation of electrolyzed reduced water (ERW), which exhibited reactive oxygen species (ROS)-scavenging activity in vitro and in cultured cells. The oxidation of linoleic acid by 2, 2’-azobis (2-amidinopropane) hydrochloride (AAPH) was suppressed…