Hydrogen water and heart rate variability biofeedback as treatments for chronic fatigue syndrome: a pilot randomized trial
Fred Friedberg, Dennis W. Choi, Xiaoyue Zhang, Jie Yang · Fatigue: Biomedicine, Health & Behavior · 2025
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
No significant post-intervention differences between the three groups were found.
What the Researchers Studied
The study examined 39 participants.
How Molecular Hydrogen Was Used
Molecular hydrogen was administered as objective to explore in an 8-week pilot randomized trial the potential benefit of two non-invasive treatments, hydrogen water (h₂) and app-based heart rate variability biofeedback (hrv-bf), for the symptoms and functional limitations in me/cfs.
What the Researchers Found
However, pre–post comparisons revealed significant improvements on the Fatigue Severity Scale (95% CI: [-0.66, -0.01]; p =.043) and the SF36 Physical Function subscale (95% CI: [5.19, 20.22]; p = 0.002) in the H₂ group. The interventions of molecular hydrogen (H₂) and app-based heart rhythm biofeedback (HRV-BF) did not yield improvements across conditions; however, pre–post improvements in physical function and fatigue in the H₂ condition suggest that extended treatment may yield a more discernable benefit.
H₂ Mechanisms / Biological Findings
The source material reviewed did not establish a specific molecular hydrogen mechanism for the reported findings.
Authors’ Conclusion
The authors concluded that the interventions of molecular hydrogen (H₂) and app-based heart rhythm biofeedback (HRV-BF) did not yield improvements across conditions; however, pre–post improvements in physical function and fatigue in the H₂ condition suggest that extended treatment may yield a more discernable benefit.
Limitations Reported by the Authors
Intervention: Two daily treatments were self-administered by participants: 2–3 glasses of hydrogen-producing drinking water and/or heart rate variability biofeedback.