There is no question whether drinking water provides quality benefits for our bodies. But did you know that drinking hydrogen-enriched water is even better? With hydration standing as a key factor for optimal health, products such as the UltraLux Health Water Tablets have launched to increase your hydrogen intake in everyday water. These tablets turn water into a hydrogen-powered elixir. The benefits associated with molecular hydrogen water include improved cardiovascular health, disease prevention, increased energy, and more. But do we have legitimate evidence to believe these benefits?

Recently, a report by Drs. Sergej Ostojić, Ram B. Singh, Tyler W. LeBaron, and Jan Slezak, accredited medical and health professors, conducted a review of research supporting hydrogen-rich water (HRW) tablets and the claims associated with its benefits. They researched to create an expert substantiated report verifying the claims related to drinking hydrogen-enhanced water tablets. The data and studies they gathered validated 21 claims and can be centered on five areas of health including metabolic benefits, antioxidant and inflammation, brain improvements, performance and recovery, and overall health benefits.

1. Metabolic Benefits

Metabolic health refers to your metabolism, which is the complex set of chemical processes that occur within the body to convert food into energy and maintain overall bodily functions.

To begin their research, the professors dove into the metabolic claims behind hydrogen enriched tablets supporting healthy blood sugar, the maintenance of healthy blood lipids, healthy blood pressure, improved cardiovascular health, and healthy body weight and body composition. The findings included a reliable and competent support of scientific evidence for hydrogen enriched water tablets to support all of these claims.

The evidence for healthy blood sugar (glucose) levels included more than 10 human clinical studies with a majority of those being randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled studies. The findings of the collected studies showed that hydrogen-enriched water tablets decrease the absorption of glucose into the intestinal cells, which supports the reduction of blood glucose levels. This is beneficial for improving insulin sensitivity, supporting weight management, and reducing risks of complications with individuals with diabetes.

Overall, these health experts found that the hydrogen-enhanced water tablets provided an increase in metabolic benefits.

2. Antioxidant and Inflammation

Moving forward with their research, the professors gathered data on the antioxidant and inflammation effects of hydrogen-enhanced water tablets. Their findings supported the claims that the water tablets assisted the maintenance of healthy redox homeostasis and a healthy inflammatory response.

First, you may be wondering what a redox homeostasis is. A healthy redox homeostasis refers to a state of balance and stability in the redox (reduction-oxidation) reactions that occur within our body. Redox reactions involve the transfer of electrons between molecules and are crucial for various physiological processes, including energy production, detoxification, and the regulation of cellular functions. A healthy redox homeostasis relies on our body’s antioxidant defense mechanisms, which neutralize and remove excess reactive oxygen species (ROS), such as free radicals. This is essential for protecting our cells from damage and maintaining a balanced physiological state.

When gathering research, the professors found that the hydrogen-enriched water tablets studies supported a healthy redox homeostasis. They saw that over 18 human clinical studies, collectively monitored over 18 different indices concerning oxidative stress or antioxidant status, indicated that hydrogen-enriched water reduces markers of oxidation. A reduction of oxidative stress means better prevention of various chronic diseases, including cancer.

In addition to healthy redox homeostasis, the professors found quality support for inflammatory response caused by the hydrogen water tablets. At least 10 clinical studies have investigated the
effects of hydrogen-rich water (HRW) on more than 10 different markers of inflammation. In a
24-week study in sixty subjects with metabolic syndrome, hydrogen molecular water decreased Tumor Necrosis Factor alpha (TNF-α) by 18.75%. TNF-α is a pro-inflammatory cytokine, which means it promotes inflammation as part of the immune response. Therefore, a decrease in TNF-alpha levels means a decrease in inflammation. With these findings, the professors were able to confidently substantiate the claims associated with inflammation in their report.

3. Brain Benefits

Some of the most fascinating research found from substantiating hydrogen-rich water tablets surrounds its brain benefits. These claims state that the hydrogen-rich water tablets reduce mental fatigue, maintain brain metabolism after acute sleep deprivation, provide healthy brain metabolism in elderly individuals, and support brain performance.

Through the experts’ research, there is competent evidence to support each of these brain related benefits. They found a study by Todorovic et al (Zanini, Todorovic et al. 2022) where the results showed a single-dose of HRW positively improved the neuropsychological performance in young sleep-deprived adults (Todorovic, Zanini et al. 2021). It was also reported in a systemic review and meta-analysis that HRW helps reduce exercise-induced psychometric fatigue. So the professors found that the claims surrounding HRW improving mental fatigue was substantiated.

In addition, they saw that several studies demonstrated how molecular hydrogen can increase brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) levels. BDNF plays a vital role in brain performance and function, as it is a protein that promotes the growth, survival, and maintenance of neurons in the brain. The research supported all claims centered on hydrogen water tablets improving brain performance.

4. Performance and Recovery

It is claimed that hydrogen-rich water supports exercise performance, lowers fatigue, supports functional fitness performance in older adults, supports mitochondrial function, restores healthy joint function, and improves skin and wrinkles. With such impactful benefits, the professors researched to prove these claims.

During their research, they found a randomized, placebo-controlled, cross-over study, involving 12 women with an average age of 53.8 ± 13.0 years. Each woman was randomly assigned to receive either 1 liter of HRW per day, or a placebo of tap water for 28 days. The primary outcome was a significant improvement of cardiorespiratory endurance in the HRW group compared to the placebo group after the 28 days. The secondary outcomes included work capacity and impact of weight on the quality of life, that was also improved by the HRW. These findings supported the claim of hydrogen-enhanced water tablets being a viable option for enhancing exercise performance.

Not only did their report substantiate the hydrogen claims associated with athletic performance, but the professors found studies supporting muscle and skin recovery. One study included six Japanese subjects bathing daily in HRW for three months. They found that it had a positive impact on their skin and wrinkles (Kato, Saitoh et al. 2012). Specifically, there were improvements in wrinkle appearance on the back of the neck in four subjects by the 90th day compared to the initial assessment. These findings suggest that HRW can be used as a daily skincare routine to counteract skin damage caused by UVA radiation. The benefits of HRW may be attributed to its ability to find reactive oxygen species (ROS) and promote the synthesis of type-I collagen in the dermis, contributing to improved skin health and reduced wrinkles (Kato, Saitoh et al. 2012).

These studies assisted the professors’ report in validating the claims associated with hydrogen-rich water improving overall exercise performance and recovery.

5. Overall Health Benefits

In their research, the professors found further evidence on how drinking hydrogen-rich water provides overarching benefits for our bodies. They found studies to substantiate the positive effects drinking HRW has on your liver, sperm, and gut health, in addition to healthy aging.

In a 28-day crossover study in patients with Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease, hydrogen-rich water intervention significantly reduced liver fat accumulation, baseline liver fat, and reduced serum levels of aspartate aminotransaminase by 10% (Korovljev, Stajer et al. 2019). Aspartate aminotransaminase (AST) is found in tissues and if its levels are elevated, then it may be a sign of liver damage. Through the hydrogen-rich water decreasing these AST levels, it supports the prevention of further damage.

Moving to sperm health, one study reported the application of hydrogen having a positive effect on the rate of forward motility in human sperm, whereas treatment with nitrogen gas showed no such improvement. It was observed that even a 30 minute treatment with hydrogen was effective in enhancing motility. This study helped to substantiate the claim that hydrogen-rich water contributes to sperm health.

In addition, one of the more popular benefits the professors validated concerned the healthy aging effects of drinking hydrogen-enriched water. The process starts with the telomeres, which are protective caps at the ends of chromosomes that play a significant role in aging and diseases. As cells divide, telomeres naturally shorten, and when they become critically short, cells can no longer divide, so they die. Activation of the telomerase enzyme can prevent telomere shortening and reverse age-related conditions. In an in vitro study, it is shown how hydrogen-rich water increased telomerase activity by 148.4% (Settineri, Ji et al. 2016). This activity increase by the hydrogen enhanced water contributes to healthy aging.

From maintaining a healthy blood sugar level to improving athletic performance, there is substantial scientific evidence provided to support all claimed benefits. Now that the experts’ research has validated these benefits, it’s important to choose a resource that allows for strong results, such as the UltraLux Health Water Tablets. As science continues to progress in the hydrogen field, it’s essential to remain informed, ensuring that your pursuit of health and well-being is guided by the most substantiated research.