Hydrogen water is H₂O infused with molecular hydrogen (H₂), a tiny, neutral gas (0.74 Å) dissolved at 0.5–1.6 ppm. Its small size and solubility lets it penetrate cell membranes and mitochondria, targeting hydroxyl radicals (•OH)—potent reactive oxygen species (ROS) that damage DNA and lipids. Ohsawa et al. (2007) in Nature Medicine showed H₂ selectively neutralizes •OH (H₂ + 2•OH → 2H₂O), reducing damage by up to 80% in cell cultures without affecting beneficial ROS like H₂O₂. This selective antioxidant action, paired with a diffusion rate of 4.5 × 10⁻⁵ cm²/s, makes H₂ uniquely efficient at reaching deep cellular zones.
Once consumed, H₂ hits peak blood levels in 5–15 minutes (Medical Gas Research, 2013) and spreads across tissues—brain, liver, muscles—before exiting via breath (0.1–0.5 ppm in 30 minutes). Beyond ROS cleanup, it modulates gene expression, upregulating Nrf2 to boost antioxidants like glutathione (GSH) by 20–30% in rat models (Ohta, 2019, Pharmacological Research). It also cuts pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-6) by 15–25% in humans (Scientific Reports, 2020), easing oxidative stress and inflammation. At 1.6 mg/L max solubility, even low doses trigger systemic effects, amplifying its reach.
Clinical data backs the hype with caveats. Sim et al. (2020, Scientific Reports) found 1.5 L/day of 1.2 ppm H₂ water over 4 weeks raised antioxidant capacity by 297.8 μmol/L (P < 0.001) and cut oxidative markers by 35%. LeBaron et al. (2020) showed 24 weeks of 0.9 L/day (5–6 ppm) dropped LDL cholesterol 13.4 mg/dL (P < 0.05) in metabolic syndrome patients. Aoki et al. (2012) noted 20% less lactate (P < 0.05) in athletes, while Korovljev et al. (2022) linked 6 months of 15 ppm H₂ water to 8% higher brain NAA (P < 0.05) in seniors.
