Highlights
- Daily consumption of hydrogen-rich water reduced food cravings in adults with obesity
- Significant improvement in subjective sleep quality
- Increase in circulating GLP-1, a key hormone involved in appetite regulation
- Reduction in total and LDL cholesterol without adverse effects
- Safe, non-invasive nutritional strategy tested in a randomized controlled trial
Study Design
This study was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial conducted in obese men and women.
A total of 36 participants (24 women), with a mean age of 42.1 ± 13.2 years and BMI of 30.8 ± 4.2 kg/m², were randomly assigned to one of two groups for eight weeks:
- Hydrogen-rich water group: 1.0 L/day containing 15 mg of molecular hydrogen
- Control group: 1.0 L/day of water with 0 mg of hydrogen
Primary outcomes included appetite-related measures, body composition, sleep quality, obesity-specific quality of life, and circulating metabolic biomarkers, including glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1).
What Did They Find?
Compared to the control group, participants who consumed hydrogen-rich water showed:
- A significant reduction in food cravings
- Improved subjective sleep quality
- Increased plasma levels of GLP-1
- Decreased total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol
No serious or clinically relevant adverse effects were reported during the intervention period.
Figure 1. Changes After 8 Weeks of Hydrogen-Rich Water Consumption. Percentage change from baseline after 8 weeks, comparing hydrogen-rich water (HRW) and control groups. Negative values indicate reductions, while positive values indicate increases.
Why It Matters
Appetite dysregulation and impaired satiety signaling are central challenges in obesity management. GLP-1 plays a critical role in appetite control, glucose metabolism, and energy balance.
The findings suggest that hydrogen-rich water may modulate appetite-related pathways and metabolic markers through a safe and accessible nutritional intervention. While not a standalone treatment, molecular hydrogen could represent a supportive strategy for metabolic health and appetite regulation in individuals with obesity.
Reference: Todorovic N, Baltic S, Nedeljkovic D, et al. The Effects of 8-Week Hydrogen-Rich Water Consumption on Appetite, Body Composition, Sleep Quality, and Circulating Glucagon-like Peptide-1 in Obese Men and Women (HYDRAPPET): A Randomized Controlled Trial. Medicina (Kaunas). 2025;61(7):1299. Published 2025 Jul 18. doi:10.3390/medicina61071299
Link to full paper: Read here