New Years Resolutions?
December 31, 2019What I Learned from Having My genes Analyzed
January 3, 2020Drink HRW’s Largest Study to Date: Metabolic Syndrome
If you’ve been following my articles or podcasts, you’ve likely heard me mention the finished metabolic syndrome study that used our tablets. In fact, the study finished with the initial raw data available, 14 months ago. The fact that this article announcing the publication happens, and disrupts the flow of my series on the issues with peer review and science is poetic. Science takes time, and often the reason why those “in the know” are more confident in what a molecule does than the currently published evidence suggests, is that they know of a lot more information than is available to the public. On our tablets alone, there are a further three human trials that are finished and under manuscript preparation, and two other projects in mice. This is significant data that strengthens and further elucidates earlier research, as well as common observations and anecdotes. Stay tuned for this research to be announced, but for now, we will focus on the just-published metabolic syndrome paper.
Importantly, the metabolic syndrome study, titled “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” [1] has been accepted for publication in “Diabetes, Metabolic Syndrome and Obesity: Targets and Therapy.” Although I am ironically tearing down much of the arguments for better journals and proposing reform, but for now, journal ranking and peer review is the best system we have. The paper that accepted the study is a “Q1” journal as ranked by Scimago, meaning it is within the top quartile of its subdiscipline of focus. The journal has a respectable impact factor of 3.319, as well. Of course, this is irrelevant without strong data supporting the use of high-dose hydrogen water for metabolic syndrome.
The data from the trial was likewise very impressive. In fact, of 20 measured outcomes, 18 reached a statistically significant threshold, meaning high-dose hydrogen water from our tablets was effective in 90% of the outcomes measured. Importantly, these results strongly corroborate what I have written about regarding why hydrogen concentration and dosage matters, specifically, here and here.
There are nine studies in humans detailing molecular hydrogen therapy’s potential in outcomes that can be loosely categorized as metabolic issues. From these nine studies, and what we have learned in rodent research, metabolic dysfunction is probably the best example of a dose and duration-dependent response. One of the issues with the quality of evidence on hydrogen therapy I have discussed in the past is the lack of true replicative work in humans. Even though there are nine studies regarding metabolic issues, there is very little crossover in measured outcomes between them, making a true statistical analysis difficult. The best I am able to do is compare the rate of significant vs. null findings, in which a clear trend emerges towards higher dose and longer duration.
The first study on hydrogen water for metabolic syndrome was an open-label design, meaning there was not a control group or any randomization, and both researchers and participants knew that hydrogen water was being administered. This design allows for the potential of a placebo effect. This first open-label study following 20 individuals showed that 0.5 mg of H2 per day for 8 weeks improved 38% of measured outcomes (5 of 13).[2] Another open-label study following 20 individuals, reported that 0.5 mg of H2 per day for 10 weeks improved 59% of measured outcomes (13 of 22).[3] Another group found that 1 mg of H2 per day for 8 weeks showed an improvement in just 13% of outcomes measured (3 of 23) when following 30 participants. Importantly, this was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover designed trial improving both the statistical significance and removing the placebo effect.[4] Where the data starts becoming interesting is when examining the replicative work, which shows far more efficacious results in longer trials using a higher dose, despite being better controlled. For instance, researchers following 68 individuals for 10 weeks observed an improvement in 75% of markers tested (9 of 12), with 2 of the 3 additional markers showing a strong trend, in a double-blind placebo-controlled design.[5] The recently published study on our tablets administered a whopping 12 mg of H2 per day for 24 weeks, by far the highest dose and duration studied to date. In a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled design, the researchers observed very prominent beneficial results in 18 of 20 measured outcomes, with another outcome almost reaching the significant threshold (p=0.06). Importantly, this recent study using our tablets accounted for the magnesium in the placebo control, demonstrating that the effects are attributable to the high-dose hydrogen water alone.
This isn’t the only example where a higher dose has been needed for metabolic issues. In the pilot non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) study using our hydrogen tablets in a randomized double-blinded, placebo-controlled crossover design following 12 participants, a strong benefit was observed regarding liver fat, insulin sensitivity, and a liver marker abbreviated as “AST” that many readers will recognize from blood tests.[6] The concentration was reported at 6 mg/L and subjects ingested 1 L for a dosage of 6 mg of H2, which surpasses the 3.84 mg ineffective dose, based on body mass conversion, from the NAFLD mouse model comparing low dose to higher dose hydrogen water.[7] These results were reported in a short 28-day observation period, which is significantly shorter than any of the previously mentioned trials on hydrogen therapy exploring metabolic outcomes. In another study where mid-age overweight women consumed 6 mg of H2 per day for 4 weeks, their body composition and metabolic profiles improved with significant findings in 5 of 20 outcomes, and strong trends in 2 outcomes along with weak trends in 7 outcomes.[8] In another randomized double-blind placebo-controlled study of 34 participants using a single acute dosage of high concentrations hydrogen water, 500 mL of 7 mg/L (3.5 mg H2), H2 immediately improved vascular endothelial function.[9]
You may be thinking “great, so this new study was effective in 90% of measurements, but what were they and what do they mean for me?” I first need to clarify that while a study of 60 participants for 24 weeks is the most significant study on the subject using hydrogen therapy to date, it is still not definitive, and larger replicative studies are needed to confirm these findings. As the study itself concluded:
“In conclusion, the results from our study suggest that supplementation with high concentration HRW produced via H2-producing tablets improves body composition, favorably modulates fatty acid and glucose metabolism and improves inflammation and redox homeostasis in subjects with metabolic syndrome. Therefore, long-term treatment with high-concentration hydrogen-rich water may be used as an adjuvant therapy to decrease the features of metabolic syndrome. However, a larger prospective clinical trial is warranted to further determine the biological effects of HRW in this subject population.”
Additionally, while metabolic syndrome is extremely common in North America (as high as 1/3rd of people have it) and is not considered a disease state, it is a state where normal function of many of our physiological symptoms are impaired and disrupted. As such, it would be premature and inaccurate to state that high-dose hydrogen water would have these same effects in healthy individuals. A third of the population is not an insignificant amount, and if you’re reading this, there is a good chance that it may be relevant to you.
The study demonstrated that high-dose hydrogen water using our tablets was effective on a wide range of outcomes. Participants saw significant results in BMI and waist-to-hip ratio. They experienced significant beneficial outcomes in measured cholesterol panel, including total cholesterol and most prominently very-low-density lipoproteins, what we now know is the nastiest of the “bad cholesterols,” and finding significant results in lowering triglycerides as well. The study found the hydrogen group experienced beneficial outcomes in various inflammatory markers, more prominently for the pro-inflammatory cytokines TNFa and IL-6, but also for C Reactive Proteins. The high-dose hydrogen water lowered fasting blood sugar in this non-diabetic population and improved Hemoglobin A1c. The hydrogen water group also saw improvements in not just markers of oxidative stress, such as MDA and diene conjugates, but also in serum antioxidant measurements (vitamin E and vitamin C), pointing to the role of hydrogen in regulating the redox status of cells. The high-dose hydrogen water group saw significant results in increasing endogenous nitrites, associated with metabolic and cardiovascular health as well as athletic performance[10,11] and lowering ACE enzyme counts, which controls blood pressure. Finally, the hydrogen water group saw a statistically significant lowering of heart rate, something we also observed in our acute dosage study on athletic performance.[12]
This study is absolutely relevant to anyone metabolically impaired, and we hope that any researchers reading this reach out to us. We’d love to support as much as possible, as usual, under no contract to alter trial design or control over the decision to publish results. These results may give a glimpse into the reasoning why I have been so excited about high-dose hydrogen water, and also why I am so critical of companies trumpeting benefits while delivering lower doses and concentrations. Remember, while a study of 60 participants for 24 weeks is a step in the right direction, high-dose hydrogen water still has a few more hurdles before it can truly be recognized as effective.
Until then, I’ll remind all readers, that first time purchases come with a 100% money-back guarantee on your first bottle.
Resources:
[1] https://www.dovepress.com/the-effects-of-24-week-high-concentration-hydrogen-rich-water-on-body–peer-reviewed-fulltext-article-DMSO
[2] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20216947
[3] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23610159
[4] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19083400
[5] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25978109
[6] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30982748
[7] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6288656/
[8] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28560519
[9] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4207582/
[10] https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/joim.12441
[11] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22609879
[12] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6425901/
2 Comments
“Hi Melody, thanks for the question. 1 PPM in 1L of water= 1mg f H2. PPM= 1 Mg/L
This study used a different volume of water than we typically recommend. For instance, 2 tablets in 500ml of water each, consumed immediately, will deliver about 10mg of H2.. so this would be the equivalent of 2.4 tablets per day in 500ml of water. Hope this helps.”
I read this whole article but I cannot figure out the math to determine how many tablets of HRW you would have to take to get .5 mg or 1 mg or 12 mg! of hydrogen per day. According to my figuring… 10ppl = .01mg. Does that mean in order to get metabolic syndrome results I would have to take at least 10 tablets per day. Huh? How do I figure this out?