Highlights
- Drinking 1 L/day of hydrogen-rich water for 28 days significantly reduced liver fat accumulation in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).
- Serum AST levels decreased, suggesting improved liver health.
- No significant changes were observed in body weight, body composition, or lipid profile.
- The intervention was safe, with no treatment-related adverse events reported.
Study Design
This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover pilot trial included 12 overweight patients with mild-to-moderate non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Participants consumed either 1 liter per day of hydrogen-rich water (3 mM) or placebo water for 28 days, followed by a 14-day washout period before crossing over to the alternate intervention. The primary outcome was liver fat content assessed by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), while liver enzymes, body composition, and metabolic biomarkers were also evaluated.
What Did They Find?
After four weeks, hydrogen-rich water significantly reduced hepatic fat accumulation compared with placebo (p<0.05). Total liver fat content decreased from 284.0 ± 118.1 mM to 256.5 ± 108.3 mM, with reductions observed across multiple liver regions, particularly in the pericapsular area.
Serum AST levels decreased by approximately 10%, suggesting improved liver function. However, no significant differences were observed in ALT, GGT, alkaline phosphatase, lipid profile, glucose levels, body weight, or body composition between treatment groups.
Importantly, no adverse events related to hydrogen-rich water supplementation were reported during the intervention.
Why It Matters
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease is one of the most common chronic liver disorders worldwide, yet effective treatment options remain limited. This pilot study suggests that hydrogen-rich water may help reduce liver fat accumulation and improve a marker of liver injury without compromising safety.
Because this was a small, short-term pilot study, larger and longer clinical trials are needed to confirm these findings and determine the role of hydrogen-rich water as an adjunctive therapy for patients with NAFLD.
Reference: Korovljev D, Stajer V, Ostojic J, LeBaron TW, Ostojic SM. Hydrogen-rich water reduces liver fat accumulation and improves liver enzyme profiles in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: a randomized controlled pilot trial. Clin Res Hepatol Gastroenterol. 2019;43(6):688-693. doi:10.1016/j.clinre.2019.03.008