The Effects of 24-Week, High-Concentration Hydrogen-Rich Water on Body Composition, Blood Lipid Profiles and Inflammation Biomarkers in Men and Women with Metabolic Syndrome: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Tyler W LeBaron,1,2 Ram B Singh,3 Ghizal Fatima,4 Kumar Kartikey,3 Jagdish P Sharma,3 Sergej M Ostojic,5,6 Anna Gvozdjakova,7 Branislav Kura,2 Mami Noda,8 Viliam Mojto,9 Mohammad Arif Niaz,10 Jan Slezak1 1Centre of Experimental Medicine, Institute for Heart Research, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Bratislava, Slovak Republic; 2Molecular Hydrogen Institute, Enoch, UT, USA; 3Hospital and Research Institute, Moradabad, India; 4Era Medical College, Lucknow, India; 5Applied Bioenergetics Lab, Faculty of Sport and PE, University of Novi Sad, Novi Sad, Serbia; 6Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary; 7Medical Faculty, Pharmacobiochemical Laboratory of 3rd Medical Department, Comenius University Bratislava, Bratislava, Slovakia; 8Laboratory of Pathophysiology, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan; 9Third Internal Clinic, Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University, Bratislava, Slovakia; 10Center of Nutrition Research, International College of Nutrition, Moradabad, IndiaCorrespondence: Jan SlezakCentre of Experimental Medicine, Institute for Heart Research, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dúbravská Cesta 9, Bratislava 841 04, Slovak RepublicTel +421 903 620 181Email jan.slezak@savba.skPurpose: Metabolic syndrome is associated with several medical risk factors including dyslipidemia, hyperglycemia, and obesity, which has become a worldwide pandemic. The sequelae of this condition increase the risk of cardiovascular and neurological disease and increased mortality. Its pathophysiology is associated with redox dysregulation, excessive inflammation, and perturbation of cellular homeostasis. Molecular hydrogen (H2) may attenuate oxidative stress, improve cellular function, and reduce chronic inflammation. Pre-clinical and clinical studies have shown promising effects of H2-rich water (HRW) on specific features of metabolic syndrome, yet the effects of long-term, high-concentration HRW in this prevalent condition remain poorly addressed.Methods: We conducted a randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial in 60 subjects (30 men and 30 women) with metabolic syndrome. An initial observation period of one week was used to acquire baseline clinical data followed by randomization to either placebo or high-concentration HRW (> 5.5 millimoles of H2 per day) for 24 weeks.Results: Supplementation with high-concentration HRW significantly reduced blood cholesterol and glucose levels, attenuated serum hemoglobin A1c, and improved biomarkers of inflammation and redox homeostasis as compared to placebo (P < 0.05). Furthermore, H2 tended to promote a mild reduction in body mass index and waist-to-hip ratio.Conclusion: Our results give further credence that high-concentration HRW might have promising effects as a therapeutic modality for attenuating risk factors of metabolic syndrome.Keywords: metabolism, fasting blood glucose, cholesterol, inflammation, oxidative stress, hydrogen water