Highlights
- Two weeks of hydrogen-rich water supplementation helped preserve peak power during repeated sprint exercise.
- Cyclists consuming hydrogen-rich water experienced less performance decline throughout the workout.
- Supplementation was safe and well tolerated, with no reported adverse effects.
- These findings suggest molecular hydrogen may be a valuable complementary strategy for athletes performing repeated high-intensity efforts.
Study Design
In this randomized, single-blind crossover trial, eight trained male cyclists consumed 2 liters per day of hydrogen-rich water (450 ppb) or placebo water for two weeks, before crossing over to the alternate treatment.
Following each supplementation period, participants completed a 30-minute intermittent cycling protocol consisting of ten exercise blocks with moderate-intensity cycling followed by repeated 16-second maximal sprints. Researchers assessed power output, fatigue, heart rate, perceived exertion, and several blood markers related to acid-base balance.
What Did They Find?
Although overall mean power output was similar between treatments, an important difference emerged during the repeated sprints.
In the placebo condition, peak power output (PPO) declined significantly during the later sprints. In contrast, cyclists consuming hydrogen-rich water maintained their peak power throughout the exercise protocol, suggesting an improved ability to sustain repeated maximal efforts.
Researchers also observed trends toward lower lactate concentrations and better preservation of acid-base parameters in the hydrogen-rich water group. While these differences did not reach statistical significance, they suggest a potential physiological effect during high-intensity exercise.
No adverse effects were reported, indicating that hydrogen-rich water supplementation was well tolerated.
Why It Matters
Maintaining peak power during repeated high-intensity efforts is critical for performance in many competitive sports.
In this study, two weeks of hydrogen-rich water supplementation helped reduce the decline in peak power during repeated sprints, even though other physiological markers remained largely unchanged. According to the authors, the protective effects of molecular hydrogen may be related to its antioxidant and cytoprotective properties, potentially helping delay fatigue during intense exercise.
While larger clinical studies are still needed, these findings add to the growing body of evidence supporting hydrogen-rich water as a complementary nutritional strategy to help maintain performance during repeated high-intensity exercise.
Reference: Da Ponte A, Giovanelli N, Nigris D, Lazzer S. Effects of hydrogen rich water on prolonged intermittent exercise. J Sports Med Phys Fitness. 2018;58(5):612-621. doi:10.23736/S0022-4707.17.06883-9
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