What the studies found
| Study | Who | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Aoki, 2012 | 10 elite soccer players | Lower blood lactate after hard exercise and less drop in muscle strength vs. placebo |
| Jebabli, 2023 | 22 young runners, 500 mL 30 min before testing | Time to exhaustion about 7.7% longer; lower perceived effort; no change in jump performance |
| Li, 2024 review | 6 studies, 76 people | Improved a measure of antioxidant capacity, but did not lower oxidative stress markers |
How to read this
- Studies are small — 10 to 22 people is typical
- Most test a single dose or a few days, not months of training
- Effects on performance are small; many measures show no change
- The better-designed trials were randomized, blinded and placebo-controlled, which is a plus
Bottom line
There's early evidence that hydrogen water before exercise may modestly help endurance and how hard exercise feels. It isn't a performance enhancer you can count on, but it's a low-risk thing for curious athletes to try. In Albuquerque's dry air, any routine that gets you drinking water before a run or ride is a good one.
Sources
- Aoki K, et al. Pilot study: effects of drinking hydrogen-rich water on muscle fatigue caused by acute exercise in elite athletes. Medical Gas Research, 2012.
- Jebabli N, et al. Acute effect of hydrogen-rich water on physical, perceptual and cardiac responses during aerobic and anaerobic exercises. Frontiers in Physiology, 2023. Read it
- Li Y, et al. Can molecular hydrogen supplementation reduce exercise-induced oxidative stress in healthy adults? A systematic review and meta-analysis. Frontiers in Nutrition, 2024. Read it
Not medical advice. Hydrogen water is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Talk with your doctor about any health condition or medication.
Try fresh hydrogen alkaline water in Albuquerque. Your first visit is free. Call (505) 498-4098 to claim it.
Common questions
When should athletes drink hydrogen water?
Studies commonly gave it about 30 minutes before exercise, fresh.
Does it reduce soreness?
Some small studies suggest it might; the evidence isn't strong.