Effectiveness of Hydrogen Rich Water on Antioxidant Status of Subjects with Potential Metabolic Syndrome—An Open Label Pilot Study

• Published in: Journal of Clinical Biochemistry and Nutrition Vol. 46; no. 2; pp. 140 - 149
• Main Authors: Nakao, Atsunori, Guthrie, Najla, Evans, Malkanthi, Toyoda, Yoshiya, Sharma, Prachi
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Japan SOCIETY FOR FREE RADICAL RESEARCH JAPAN 01.03.2010; Japan Science and Technology Agency; the Society for Free Radical Research Japan
• Subjects: Antioxidants; Chemical reactions; Cholesterol; Drinking water; Health risks; Hydrogen; Hypertension; Magnesium; Metabolic disorders; metabolic syndrome; Original; Oxidative stress; Risk factors; metabolic syndrome; magnesium; drinking water; hydrogen; oxidative stress
• ISSN: 0912-0009; 1880-5086; 1880-5086
• DOI: 10.3164/jcbn.09-100

Metabolic syndrome is characterized by cardiometabolic risk factors that include obesity, insulin resistance, hypertension and dyslipidemia. Oxidative stress is known to play a major role in the pathogenesis of metabolic syndrome. The objective of this study was to examine the effectiveness of hydrogen rich water (1.5–2 L/day) in an open label, 8-week study on 20 subjects with potential metabolic syndrome. Hydrogen rich water was produced, by placing a metallic magnesium stick into drinking water (hydrogen concentration; 0.55–0.65 mM), by the following chemical reaction; Mg + 2H2O → Mg (OH)2 + H2. The consumption of hydrogen rich water for 8 weeks resulted in a 39% increase (p<0.05) in antioxidant enzyme superoxide dismutase (SOD) and a 43% decrease (p<0.05) in thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) in urine. Further, subjects demonstrated an 8% increase in high density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol and a 13% decrease in total cholesterol/HDL-cholesterol from baseline to week 4. There was no change in fasting glucose levels during the 8 week study. In conclusion, drinking hydrogen rich water represents a potentially novel therapeutic and preventive strategy for metabolic syndrome. The portable magnesium stick was a safe, easy and effective method of delivering hydrogen rich water for daily consumption by participants in the study.