Effects of drinking hydrogen-rich water in men at risk of peripheral arterial disease: a randomized placebo-controlled trial
Gu Q, Liu B, Xue J, Zhao M, Zhang X, Wang M, Zhang M, Xue Y, Qin S · 2021
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
In participants, compared to baseline, the levels of lipoprotein(a) was decreased, the malondialdehyde content was reduced, the superoxide dismutase activity was increased, and the expression of intercellular cell adhesion molecule-1 was decreased significantly in the HRW group. These findings add human evidence that helps define the outcomes that did and did not change with molecular hydrogen in this study.
What the Findings Mean
H2HUBB reviewed how hydrogen-rich water was evaluated in this publication and summarizes the source-grounded findings below. Compared to baseline, the levels of lipoprotein(a) was decreased, the malondialdehyde content was reduced, the superoxide dismutase activity was increased, and the expression of intercellular cell adhesion molecule-1 was decreased significantly in the HRW group.
What the Researchers Studied
The study used a randomized, placebo-controlled human clinical trial. The comparison condition was placebo.
What Effects Did Molecular Hydrogen Have?
Source-reported hydrogen concentration: 650–700 µM H₂ (≈1.31–1.41 mg/L); Source-reported hydrogen exposure: 245 mL hydrogen-rich water/day; dissolved H₂ concentration was not sufficiently reported, so H2HUBB did not estimate milligrams of H₂. Compared to baseline, the levels of lipoprotein(a) was decreased, the malondialdehyde content was reduced, the superoxide dismutase activity was increased, and the expression of intercellular cell adhesion molecule-1 was decreased significantly in the HRW group. The authors concluded that drinking HRW can improve vascular sclerosis indicators, improve dyslipidemia, reduce vascular oxidative stress and inflammation, and improve HDL function. Hydrogen (H₂ ) has been proven to decrease oxidative stress, improve cell function, and reduce chronic inflammation. Table 3 Effect of H₂ on lipid profiles, oxidative and inflammatory biomarkers measure HRW group P PBO group P P § 0-week 10-week TC, mmol/L 5.24 ± 1.21 5.34 ± 0.82 ‡ 5.39 ± 0.77 5.69 ± 0.84 0.004* 0.047* TG, mmol/L 1.19 ± 0.64 † 1.53 ± 1.18 † 0.22 ‡ 1.30 ± 0.65 † 1.42 ± 0.64 † 0.82 ‡ 0.43 ‡ Lp(a), mg/L 2.06 ± 0.50 1.98 ± 0.54 0.01* 1.98 ± 0.36 1.99 ± 0.38 0.50 0.55 LDL-C, mmol/L 1.21 ± 0.27 1.23 ± 0.27 0.70 1.22 ± 0.20 1.24 ± 0.21 0.27 0.72 VLDL, mmol/L 0.85 ± 0.43 † 0.86 ± 0.23 0.22 ‡ 0.83 ± 0.3 † 0.86 ± 0.30 0.79 ‡ 0.98 HDL-C (mmol/L) 1.44 ± 0.32 1.41 ± 0.35 0.70 1.30 ± 0.28 1.32 ± 0.28 0.72 0.95 ApoB, g/L 1.24 ± 0.21 1.00 1.22 ± 0.20 † 1.23 ± 0.24 † 0.72 ‡ 0.90 ‡ ApoAⅠ, g/L 1.48 ± 0.23 1.43 ± 0.21 0.34 1.38 ± 0.33 † 1.46 ± 0.27 0.85 ‡ 0.60 MDA, mmol/L 3.93 ± 1.68 3.12 ± 0.69 0.03* 3.38 ± 1.39 3.32 ± 0.85 0.86 0.98 SOD activity, U/mL 12.47 ± 1.84 13.39 ± 0.88 † 0.002* ‡ 12.71 ± 1.84 † 12.98 ± 1.91 † 0.06 ‡ 0.44 ‡ PAZPC,relative peak area —— 0.08 ± 0.02 —— —— 0.09 ± 0.03 —— 0.04 PGPC,relative peak area —— 0.05 ± 0.02 —— —— 0.06 ± 0.02 —— 0.27 PONPC,relative peak area —— 0.0056 ± 0.0004 —— —— 0.0059 ± 0.0008 † —— 0.09 ‡ POVPC,relative peak area —— 0.0045 ± 0.002 —— —— 0.0046 ± 0.001 —— 0.85 ICAM-1, pg/mL 5.32 ± 0.39 5.30 ± 0.37 0.003* 5.11 ± 0.85 † 5.10 ± 0.83 † 0.16 ‡ 0.42 ‡ MMP-1, pg/mL 2.67 ± 0.32 2.66 ± 0.30 0.82 2.69 ± 0.31 2.64 ± 0.27 0.35 0.85 CCL1, pg/mL 1.35 ± 0.35 † 1.49 ± 0.25 † 0.19 ‡ 1.48 ± 0.20 † 1.35 ± 0.35 † 0.33 ‡ 0.26 ‡ P § represents the comparison between the hydrogen-rich water group and the placebo group at 10-week.*P † Non-normal data is represented by median and interquartile range and the remaining results are shown as mean ± SD. ‡ Statistical analysis was performed by nonparametric tests for nonparametric data, and Student's t test for normally distributed data.
Why These Findings Matter
This publication adds useful evidence about where molecular hydrogen did and did not change the measured outcomes, helping define the larger therapeutic evidence base.
How Strong Is This Evidence?
This is human clinical evidence from a randomized, placebo-controlled human clinical trial. H2HUBB interprets the findings in the context of the study design, sample, comparator, and measured outcomes rather than using one publication as a verdict on hydrogen therapy.
Technical Study Details
H2HUBB classifies this publication as human clinical study with human clinical evidence. The reported sample size was 3. The study used a randomized, placebo-controlled human clinical trial. The hydrogen delivery method was hydrogen-rich water. The source-reported hydrogen concentration was 650–700 µM H₂ (≈1.31–1.41 mg/L). The source-reported hydrogen exposure was 245 mL hydrogen-rich water/day; dissolved H₂ concentration was not sufficiently reported, so H2HUBB did not estimate milligrams of H₂.
Limitations and Safety
No separate limitations or safety findings were identified in the current-study 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://www.researchsquare.com/article/rs-136097/v1.