50歳以上の運動未経験者における6週間の水素水摂取がレジスタンストレーニング後の運動関連バイオマーカーに与える影響：無作為化対照パイロット試験
This double-blind, placebo-controlled pilot trial enrolled 27 previously untrained adults aged over 50 years (mean age 57.6 ± 6.7 years; 18 females) who underwent a 6-week resistance training program while consuming either hydrogen-rich water (HRW; 12 mg dihydrogen per serving) or control water (<0.1 ppm dihydrogen) twice daily. Both groups demonstrated significant improvements in muscle performance indices from baseline. The HRW group showed significant increases in serum free testosterone and cortisol, alongside significant reductions in total cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol. Compared with the control group, HRW significantly attenuated acute muscle damage biomarkers induced by resistance exercise, and a trend toward improved sleep quality was observed (p = 0.119). These findings suggest HRW may support training-related physiological adaptations in older, exercise-naive individuals.
The reduction in acute muscle damage biomarkers with HRW is attributed to selective scavenging of reactive oxygen species by molecular hydrogen, thereby mitigating exercise-induced oxidative stress. Modulation of lipid metabolism and hormonal responses (testosterone, cortisol) was also observed.
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).
See also:
https://h2-papers.org/en/papers/40525414