Hydrogen Water Benefits for Skin
November 21, 2019Why H₂ Concentration Matters
December 13, 2019Is Hydrogen Water an Antioxidant?
The topic of hydrogen, whether delivered as hydrogen water or hydrogen inhalation, acting as an “antioxidant” is something I have addressed numerous times before. Despite myself and many others trying to correct misinformation and misconceptions, the claims that hydrogen water is an antioxidant remain pervasive.
Hydrogen as an Antioxidant – Yes or No?
One of the most common claims is that “hydrogen water is the most powerful antioxidant known“. This is demonstrably false, and the early beliefs that hydrogen gas works as a direct free radical scavenger relied on in vitro studies (cell studies done outside the body) showing it to selectively reduce the most damaging stressors, largely as it is an incredibly WEAK antioxidant.
Hydrogen water may show to selectively reduce the nastiest oxidative and nitrosative stressors in vitro, but in vivo (in the living body) the chance of this happening is highly unlikely. If it does happen, it most likely will only have a negligible impact. In fact, in some studies, molecular hydrogen has actually shown to increase oxidative stress.1
Far more profoundly, molecular hydrogen has shown evidence of promoting the function of our redox homeostasis;2,3,4 the delicate balance between antioxidants and oxidative stress. Hydrogen water does not work as a direct antioxidant, and this is a good thing. Antioxidant supplementation has shown to lack efficacy at best in a recent meta-analysis,5 and in some cases, may prove harmful due to indiscriminately reducing necessary oxidative species and downregulating our endogenous production of antioxidants,6 even leading to an increase in the prevalence of cancer.7
Molecular hydrogen works as an antioxidant in vivo by activating the Nrf2, pathway, regulating our body’s endogenous antioxidant production of glutathione, catalase, and superoxide dismutase, and promoting a homeostatic antioxidant/oxidative stress balance. 9,10,11,12,13 There are several “Nrf2” activators on the market. However, disturbing evidence suggests in some instances, Nrf2 activation beyond homeostatic levels can promote tumor growth and decrease the effectiveness of chemotherapy gives pause for caution.14,15
The evidence on molecular hydrogen suggests this is not a concern. In fact, molecular hydrogen has evidence for both suppression of tumor growth,16,17,18 while mitigating the negative has evidence side effects of cancer treatments without interfering with efficacy, perhaps even potentiating efficacy, in two randomized clinical trials as well as rodent studies.19,20,21,22,23 It may even improve the prognosis for cancer patients, according to one recent human study,24 although much more research is needed for any definitive statements.
In the last several years, it has become more and more clear that the reason high doses of indiscriminate antioxidants are not beneficial for most people, but potentially harmful, could be due to many oxidative compounds functioning as signaling molecules. Nitric oxide (NO), for instance, is a free radical that can cause oxidative stress. However, we know that it has a critical role in our health, particularly in vasodilation, with work done to demonstrate this leading to the 1998 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine.25
Hydrogen may play a role not just in regulating our endogenous antioxidants, but also with “good” reactive oxidative species. Hydrogen has been shown to regulate NO in the hippocampus through regulating the enzyme neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS).26 In addition, by diminishing inducible NOS (iNOS) expression and decreasing NO levels, hydrogen can inhibit a type I allergy response.27
While hydrogen increases iNOS activity in an animal model of liver inflammation,28 it can simultaneously protect against the effects of elevated NO levels leading to the nitrogen radical peroxynitrite by neutralizing ONOO while bypassing NO.29 Hydrogen has also been shown to protect against nitrosative stress along with oxidative stress.30 Additionally, while hydrogen water does not directly scavenge hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) another “good” reactive oxidative species that has beneficial physiological roles, it has shown to indirectly suppress excess hydrogen peroxide levels.31
Basically, we need some amounts of the “good” oxidative species in our system and also need the right amount of antioxidants, Too much or too little of either is a bad thing. We have previously put out a simplified video explaining this, here. This is why we will use terms such as “antioxidant-like effect” or “combats excess oxidative stress,” but do not refer to molecular hydrogen as an antioxidant; at least not in the context of inside the body.
1. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6352570/
2. https://journals.lww.com/acsm-msse/fulltext/2017/05001/Hydrogen_rich_Water_Modulates_Redox_Status.2757.aspx
3. https://www.hindawi.com/journals/bmri/2018/2571269/
4. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-018-26388-3
5. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23255568
6. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24241129
7. https://stm.sciencemag.org/content/7/308/308re8/tab-figures-data
8. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27596008
9. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23475767
10. http://europepmc.org/abstract/med/24912641
11. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25230863
12. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4699099/
13. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26276082
14. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22810811
15. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21734707
16. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25870767
17. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/1166304
18. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/31113492
19. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29142752
20. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22146004
21. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19148645
22. https://esmoopen.bmj.com/content/3/Suppl_2/A103.3
23. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21882093
24. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30542740?fbclid=IwAR1KeTqQQc6SKGA9hOk5H7OtTYSgXIiFRetfRsXGDrbGWz0mJ-A4k31eFqI
25. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biological_functions_of_nitric_oxide
26. http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0006899311010250
27. http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0006291X11010965
28. http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0764446901013506)
29. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22146365
30. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4699099/
31. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30669692