Pilot study of H₂ therapy in Parkinson’s disease: a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial.
Asako Yoritaka, Masashi Takanashi, Masaaki Hirayama, Toshiki Nakahara, Shigeo Ohta, Nobutaka Hattori · Movement disorders : official journal of the Movement Disorder Society · 2013
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 with levodopa-medicated PD, total Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) scores in the H₂-water group (n=9) improved (median, -1.0; mean ± standard deviation, -5.7 ± 8.4), whereas UPDRS scores in the placebo group (n=8) worsened (median, 4.5; mean ± standard deviation, 4.1 ± 9.2). These findings add human evidence supporting molecular hydrogen's therapeutic potential for Parkinson's disease.
What the Findings Mean
H2HUBB reviewed how molecular hydrogen affected the outcomes measured in participants with levodopa-medicated PD. Total Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) scores in the H₂-water group (n=9) improved (median, -1.0; mean ± standard deviation, -5.7 ± 8.4), whereas UPDRS scores in the placebo group (n=8) worsened (median, 4.5; mean ± standard deviation, 4.1 ± 9.2).
What the Researchers Studied
The researchers studied participants with levodopa-medicated PD. The study used a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled human clinical trial. The comparison condition was placebo.
What Effects Did Molecular Hydrogen Have?
Reported treatment duration: 48 weeks. Total Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) scores in the H₂-water group (n=9) improved (median, -1.0; mean ± standard deviation, -5.7 ± 8.4), whereas UPDRS scores in the placebo group (n=8) worsened (median, 4.5; mean ± standard deviation, 4.1 ± 9.2). The authors concluded that drinking H₂-water was safe and well tolerated, and a significant improvement in total UPDRS scores for patients in the H₂-water group was demonstrated.
Why These Findings Matter
These findings add human evidence supporting molecular hydrogen's therapeutic potential for Parkinson's disease and contribute to the growing body of molecular-hydrogen research.
How Strong Is This Evidence?
This is human clinical evidence from a randomized, double-blind, 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 research population or model was participants with levodopa-medicated PD. The study used a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled human clinical trial. The reported treatment duration was 48 weeks.
Limitations and Safety
Safety information: The results indicated that drinking H₂-water was safe and well tolerated, and a significant improvement in total UPDRS scores for patients in the H₂-water group was demonstrated.
Original Study and H2HUBB Research Context
H2HUBB presents this source-grounded research record as one contribution to the broader molecular-hydrogen evidence base.