© The Journal of the International Foot & Ankle Foundation, 2022 P Sundararajan / The Journal of the International Foot & Ankle Foundation 1(7):1
Priya Sundararajan, DPM, FACFAS, MBA · Journal of the International Foot & Ankle Foundation · 2012
Research-use notice
Independent study record
Each H2HUBB study page organizes source-linked research details for educational use. Interpretation should remain proportional to the study design, population, controls, and limitations.
H2HUBB TAKEAWAY
This narrative review examined the available molecular-hydrogen literature. Of these studies, elevenstudies reportedthe clinical findingsassociated with oral ingestion of liquid HRWand three studies identified observations pertaining tootherhydrogen-rich applications in transdermal and tablet forms. The reviewed evidence adds support for molecular hydrogen's therapeutic potential across the conditions, mechanisms, or outcomes examined.
What the Findings Mean
H2HUBB reviewed this publication as a synthesis of molecular-hydrogen research and summarizes the outcomes emphasized by the authors. Of these studies, elevenstudies reportedthe clinical findingsassociated with oral ingestion of liquid HRWand three studies identified observations pertaining tootherhydrogen-rich applications in transdermal and tablet forms.
What the Researchers Studied
The authors reviewed © The Journal of the International Foot & Ankle Foundation, 2022 P Sundararajan / The Journal of the International Foot & Ankle Foundation 1(7):1.
What Effects Did Molecular Hydrogen Have?
Of these studies, elevenstudies reportedthe clinical findingsassociated with oral ingestion of liquid HRWand three studies identified observations pertaining tootherhydrogen-rich applications in transdermal and tablet forms. The medicalapplicationof molecularhydrogen inhumanswas originallydocumentedapproximatelyhalfa century ago andhassincebeenevaluatedinvariousclinicalcontexts[1,2].Inthepastdecade, thesports industry hasutilizedmolecularhydrogenandother bufferingagents to increasethe body’santioxidantresponseandimprove theefficiencyofaerobicand anaerobicmetabolism,anecdotallyleadingtoimprovedathleticperformanceduringhighintensityexercise[2-4].Enabledby itssize, molecularhydrogen worksthroughrapiddiffusionintolivingtissuesandcells[2].Thehydrogen(H₂)moleculecanpenetratethroughthe cell membraneand themitochondriawhereit helpsto maintaina state between oxidationand reductionand maximizeaerobicenergy production[5].Molecularhydrogencanbeadministeredby differentmethods(inhalationof H2gas or as injectablesalinesolutions, topicalpacks, ortablets),butoneofthemostcommonwaysistheoralingestionofhydrogen-richwater(HRW)[2,4-6].HRWhasa pHhigherthannormalwaterandhasbecomecommerciallyavailable[7].Recently, somestudieshave suggestedit can improve athleticperformanceby reducingexercise-relatedmetabolicacidosisand antioxidantand anti-inflammatoryresponses and delaying the onset of fatigue [7-9]. © The Journal of the International Foot & Ankle Foundation, 2022 P Sundararajan / The Journal of the International Foot & Ankle Foundation 1(7):1 MethodsAliteraturereviewofthepasttenyears(2012-2022)withthesearchterms“hydrogenwater”and“athlete”was conductedusingthe PubMedsearch engine.Prospective andretrospective studiesthatdescribedtheeffectsofmolecularhydrogenonanathleticorexercisingpopulationwereincluded.Non-clinicalandanimalstudies, opinions, studiesinaforeignlanguage,studieswithfewerthantensubjects(e.g. casereports),studieswhich didnotpertaintothetargettreatment(molecularhydrogen) or the specifiedpopulation(subjectsexercisingor athletes),andstudieswhichcouldnotbeobtainedwereexcluded.Studyeligibilitywas initiallydeterminedby readingthe titleandabstracts.
Why These Findings Matter
The reviewed evidence adds support for molecular hydrogen's therapeutic potential across the conditions, mechanisms, or outcomes examined.
How Strong Is This Evidence?
This is review or synthesis evidence (narrative review).
Technical Study Details
H2HUBB classifies this publication as narrative review with review or synthesis evidence. The study used a narrative review. The hydrogen delivery method was hydrogen-rich water. The reported hydrogen concentration was 5 mg/L H₂.
Limitations and Safety
No separate limitations or safety findings were identified in the source text available to H2HUBB.
Original Study and H2HUBB Research Context
H2HUBB presents this source-grounded research record as one contribution to the broader molecular-hydrogen evidence base. The original scholarly source is available at https://internationalfootankle.org/journal/index.php/JIFAF/article/download/21/23.