Highlights
- Hydrogen-rich water helped reduce performance decline during repeated sprint exercise.
- Professional soccer players maintained faster sprint times during the final stages of the protocol.
- The supplementation was safe and well tolerated, with no reported adverse effects.
- Findings suggest that molecular hydrogen may serve as a complementary strategy to support fatigue resistance during high-intensity exercise.
Study Design
Researchers investigated the effects of acute hydrogen-rich water (0.9 ppm H₂) consumption on repeated sprint performance in 16 professional male soccer players. The study was randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, and crossover in design.
Participants consumed a total of 1,260 mL of hydrogen-rich water divided into four doses before exercise. They then completed a repeated sprint protocol consisting of 15 × 30-meter sprints, each separated by 20 seconds of recovery. Sprint performance, blood lactate concentration, and ratings of perceived exertion were evaluated.
What Did They Find?
Athletes who consumed hydrogen-rich water maintained their performance more effectively during the later stages of the repeated sprint protocol, when fatigue typically becomes more pronounced.
Compared with placebo, hydrogen-rich water significantly improved sprint performance:
- 3.4% faster during the 14th 15-meter sprint
- 2.7% faster during the 15th 15-meter sprint
- 1.9% faster during the final 30-meter sprint
No significant differences were observed in post-exercise blood lactate concentrations or perceived exertion, and no adverse effects were reported.
Why It Matters
Repeated high-intensity exercise places substantial demands on muscle energy production, often leading to progressive fatigue and reduced performance.
According to the authors, molecular hydrogen may help support mitochondrial function and maintain redox balance, potentially improving cellular energy production during demanding exercise. These physiological mechanisms may contribute to the better preservation of sprint performance observed during the final repetitions.
Reference: Botek M, Khanna D, Krejčí J, et al. Molecular Hydrogen Mitigates Performance Decrement during Repeated Sprints in Professional Soccer Players. Nutrients. 2022;14(3):508. Published 2022 Jan 25. doi:10.3390/nu14030508
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