Drinking hydrogen water enhances endurance and relieves psychometric fatigue: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study

• Published in: Canadian journal of physiology and pharmacology Vol. 97; no. 9; pp. 857 - 862
• Main Authors: Mikami, Toshio, Tano, Kohei, Lee, Hosung, Lee, Hyowon, Park, Jonghyuk, Ohta, Fumiaki, LeBaron, Tyler W, Ohta, Shigeo
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Ottawa NRC Research Press 01.09.2019; Canadian Science Publishing NRC Research Press
• Subjects: Analogs; Antioxidants; Clinical trials; Double-blind studies; Drinking water; Durability; Endurance; Endurance capacity; Enzymes; Exercise; Experiments; Fatigue; Health aspects; Hydrogen; Muscles; Oxygen consumption; Pharmacology; Physical exercise; Physiology; Quantitative psychology; Randomization; Reactive oxygen species; Skeletal muscle; Water; Japan
• ISSN: 0008-4212; 1205-7541
• DOI: 10.1139/cjpp-2019-0059

Acute physical exercise increases reactive oxygen species in skeletal muscle, leading to tissue damage and fatigue. Molecular hydrogen ([H.sub.2]) acts as a therapeutic antioxidant directly or indirectly by inducing antioxidative enzymes. Here, we examined the effects of drinking [H.sub.2] water ([H.sub.2]-infused water) on psychometric fatigue and endurance capacity in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled fashion. In Experiment 1, all participants drank only placebo water in the first cycle ergometer exercise session, and for comparison they drank either [H.sub.2] water or placebo water 30 min before exercise in the second examination. In these healthy non-trained participants (n = 99), psychometric fatigue judged by visual analogue scales was significantly decreased in the [H.sub.2] group after mild exercise. When each group was divided into 2 subgroups, the subgroup with higher visual analogue scale values was more sensitive to the effect of [H.sub.2]. In Experiment 2, trained participants (n = 60) were subjected to moderate exercise by cycle ergometer in a similar way as in Experiment 1, but exercise was performed 10 min after drinking [H.sub.2] water. Endurance and fatigue were significantly improved in the [H.sub.2] group as judged by maximal oxygen consumption and Borg's scale, respectively. Taken together, drinking [H.sub.2] water just before exercise exhibited anti-fatigue and endurance effects.