間質性膀胱炎／膀胱痛症候群患者における水素水摂取の効果：無作為化二重盲検プラセボ対照試験
A prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial enrolled 30 patients (29 women, 1 man; mean age 64.0 ± 14.8 years) with interstitial cystitis/painful bladder syndrome (IC/PBS) whose symptoms had been stable for at least 12 weeks following bladder hydrodistension. Participants were allocated in a 2:1 ratio to receive either hydrogen-rich water or placebo water for 8 weeks. Outcomes were measured using the Interstitial Cystitis Symptom Index, Interstitial Cystitis Problem Index, Parsons' Pelvic Pain and Urgency/Frequency Patient Symptom Scale, visual analog scale bladder pain scores, and a 3-day voiding diary. Bladder pain scores declined significantly in both groups; however, no statistically significant difference was detected between the hydrogen-rich water and placebo groups on any primary or secondary endpoint. Notably, approximately 11% of patients in the hydrogen-rich water group showed marked improvement in bladder pain scores. Two participants withdrew before study completion.
An antioxidant mechanism was hypothesized, whereby hydrogen-rich water would reduce oxidative stress-driven bladder inflammation; however, no significant benefit over placebo was demonstrated in this trial.
Hydrogen-rich water is a low-risk delivery route, but the achievable systemic hydrogen dose is bounded. For clinical applications, inhalation is the most efficient route; inhalation, however, carries explosion risk, and concentration matters (empirical LFL of 10% applies to inhalation environments; high-concentration devices are documented in the Consumer Affairs Agency accident database and are not recommended).
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https://h2-papers.org/en/papers/23374763