Effects of molecular hydrogen supplementation on fatigue and aerobic capacity in healthy adults: A systematic review and meta-analysis.
Kaixiang Zhou, Meng Liu, Yubo Wang, Haoyang Liu, Brad Manor, Dapeng Bao, Luyu Zhang, Junhong Zhou · Frontiers in nutrition · 2023
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, the pooled effect sizes of H₂ on RPE (SMDpooled = -0.38, 95%CI -0.65 to -0.11, p = 0.006, I 2 = 33.6%, p = 0.149) and blood lactate (SMDpooled = -0.42, 95% CI -0.72 to -0.12, p = 0.006, I 2 = 35.6%, p = 0.114) were small yet significant with low heterogeneity. These findings add human evidence supporting molecular hydrogen's therapeutic potential to influence fatigue-related outcomes in healthy adults.
What the Findings Mean
H2HUBB reviewed how molecular hydrogen was evaluated in this publication and summarizes the source-grounded findings below. The pooled effect sizes of H₂ on RPE (SMDpooled = -0.38, 95%CI -0.65 to -0.11, p = 0.006, I 2 = 33.6%, p = 0.149) and blood lactate (SMDpooled = -0.42, 95% CI -0.72 to -0.12, p = 0.006, I 2 = 35.6%, p = 0.114) were small yet significant with low heterogeneity.
What the Researchers Studied
The study used a meta analysis. The comparison condition was placebo.
What Effects Did Molecular Hydrogen Have?
The pooled effect sizes of H₂ on RPE (SMDpooled = -0.38, 95%CI -0.65 to -0.11, p = 0.006, I 2 = 33.6%, p = 0.149) and blood lactate (SMDpooled = -0.42, 95% CI -0.72 to -0.12, p = 0.006, I 2 = 35.6%, p = 0.114) were small yet significant with low heterogeneity. The authors concluded that subgroup analysis was used to analyze potential sources of heterogeneity due to intervention period, training status, and type of exercise. Studies indicate that molecular hydrogen (H₂), with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, may be a promising strategy to alleviate fatigue and improve aerobic capacity.
Why These Findings Matter
These findings add human evidence supporting molecular hydrogen's therapeutic potential to influence fatigue-related outcomes in healthy adults and contribute to the growing body of molecular-hydrogen research.
How Strong Is This Evidence?
This is human clinical evidence from a meta analysis. 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 study used a meta analysis.
Limitations and Safety
Reported limitations: Subgroup analysis was used to analyze potential sources of heterogeneity due to intervention period, training status, and type of exercise. The pooled effect sizes of H₂ on RPE (SMDpooled = -0.38, 95%CI -0.65 to -0.11, p = 0.006, I 2 = 33.6%, p = 0.149) and blood lactate (SMDpooled = -0.42, 95% CI -0.72 to -0.12, p = 0.006, I 2 = 35.6%, p = 0.114) were small yet significant with low heterogeneity. The pooled effect sizes of H₂ on VO2max and VO2peak (SMDpooled = 0.09, 95% CI -0.10 to 0.29, p = 0.333, I 2 = 0%, p = 0.998) and endurance performance (SMDpooled = 0.01, 95% CI -0.23 to 0.25, p = 0.946, I 2 = 0%, p > 0.999) were not significant and trivial without heterogeneity.
Original Study and H2HUBB Research Context
H2HUBB presents this source-grounded research record as one contribution to the broader molecular-hydrogen evidence base.