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August 15, 2021The Intellectual Dishonesty of David Marsalek and H2 World
It’s hard to refer to something as a “scam” when it is presented out in the open. A better word would be intellectual dishonesty. David Marsalek and his company “H2 World” try to position themselves as an honest, scientifically focused company; however, their claims surrounding their products, in addition to the lack of efficacy of their products, are completely incongruous with this image they’d have the public to believe.
Fully on record, David Marsalek’s company used to purchase tablets from my manufacturing company, private labeled, which were distributed in the Czech Republic and Slovakia as cosmetics (similar in concept to our current “H2 Beauty”, but a significantly different formula). The product was called “HydroGEN Power” (see below).
David and I began falling out several years ago for several reasons:
1. I refused to give him exclusivity to Europe forever for “purchase promises” lower than what I was, at that time, already supplying other buyers in Europe.
2. He launched a product formulated by the late Dusan Miljkovic called “Real H2”, that didn’t actually produce or contain any H2, relying on other ingredients to “trick” the H2Blue reagent. Despite being confronted about this, he refused to stop marketing the product.
3. He began behaving in what I viewed as a completely deceitful and unethical manner regarding researchers. Basically, David and his company covered expenses to hold scientific conferences under the guise of the European Institute of Molecular Hydrogen Therapy (EIHMT). I say guise, as it is apparent that H2 World, and David Marsalek, position the EIHMT as a de facto extension of H2 World in their social media postings.
As evidenced in the screen shots below, David, or whoever is running his company’s social media, insinuates that the EIHMT is seemingly one in the same with his company, H2 World. H2 World uses the EIHMT logo mark before videos which are promoting H2 World products, insinuating that the EIHMT is involved in arranging these videos.
Note the language above. The EIHMT banner says “we collaborate…”, but then the H2 World post to its social media states “We collaborate with professionals…”, then names two prominent hydrogen researchers. This seems to imply that, according to H2 World, the commercial company and the EIHMT are one in the same.
My question regarding the behaviour of David Marsalek and H2 World is:
If the goal is truly to bring accurate education to molecular hydrogen research, as David has asserted to various researchers, why isn’t David and H2 World following the guidance regarding therapeutic dosing and concentrations in the products they sell that these same researchers in the EIHMT educate on being the necessary minimums for therapeutic properties?
To me, it seems more likely that David Marsalek, and H2 World, are using the EIHMT as a “legitimacy screen” to obfuscate the unfortunate fact they are peddling ineffective products, with claims that go beyond questionable.
He also approached various academics trying to strong arm them into endorsing him, and then worked to slander and discredit them after they refused. I have personal correspondence with David slandering two highly respected researchers in the molecular hydrogen field. In short, he insinuates that if a researcher has ever accepted a speaking fee or donation for research or has conducted analysis/consulting for private work, then nothing they say can be trusted. This is in response to two specific researchers who tested his H2 Real product and told him there was no molecular hydrogen production. By his logic, all of the researchers that accepted flights to be covered, possibly with small speaking fees, to attend the EIHMT conferences now cannot be trusted.
David’s Hydrogen Institute, the EIHMT
Back when David was selling product for 7.2HydroFX, he formed what was originally proposed as a European version of the Molecular Hydrogen Institute. David would fund and sponsor academic conferences with this, supposedly for consumer education and to dispel myths and false information (the irony). Interestingly, the EIHMT plagiarized all the content from Tyler W. LeBaron’s MHI website without his consent or even the knowledge of its existence. Instead of fighting, Tyler tried to build bridges by joining as a director to the non-profit to help spread accurate information. However, as the conferences began happening, Tyler and other researchers became uneasy with how closely the non-profit seemed to be a marketing arm for commercial products. David displayed himself and his company prominently and began utilizing the involvement of researchers, who agreed under the pretense of non-endorsing education, as a tacit, or even full blown, endorsement of his company. David continues to use Tyler LeBaron’s image and name as a “founder and director” to try to imply a tacit endorsement.
In a statement I received from Tyler LeBaron regarding the EIMHT, David Marsalek, and his involvement, Tyler stated:
“I am a director, however, I was not a founder. David started the EIMHT without my knowledge, and plagiarized all of my content from the MHI. Believing his assertions of good intentions and the goal of spreading accurate information, I agreed to be a director of the EIMHT.
There have been some concerns of product focus and implied tacit endorsements in the past, however when I’ve noticed them and brought up my concerns to David he has always rectified things.
The recent accusations being leveled against David, and the lack of hydrogen producing agents in his products, is very concerning. Bringing awareness, and delivering accurate information on molecular hydrogen, is something I am devoted to.
I am not very active on social media, so have not kept up to date with any activity from H2 World or David’s company which may imply endorsement or connections between the EIHMT and him or his company. If David, or his company, are making any assertions of this, implied or directly, it is a violation of the bylaws of the not-for-profit EIMHT.”
David Marsalek uses other methods to try to insinuate tacit endorsement, such as copying the logo of the MHI for his own company’s logo! See below:
H2 World’s New Direction
Like any good conman, David Marsalek has adapted to the criticisms he’s faced. He has discontinued H2Real and HydroGEN Power, and developed an entirely new line based on the former. Although I cannot prove he no longer purchases from the late Dusan’s company, it seems unlikely he would pay their premiums upon finding out there was no hydrogen creation in amounts we accept as being therapeutic, only negligible production from the bacteria in our digestive tract.
H2 World has now launched two new products, H2 Immunity and H2 Forte, neither of which utilize any reaction to produce or deliver H2; both advertising that they produce H2 in the digestive tract from bacteria. The issue? It is well established in the research that producing hydrogen in this way is not equivalent to delivering exogenous hydrogen, such as through hydrogen-rich water or hydrogen inhalation. H2 World is knowingly utilizing a method not supported by the science — methods that, in fact, have proven to be ineffective by the research in some models.
Does this mean that internal production of molecular hydrogen through agents犀利士
like he is adding is never effective? No, however, there are some important considerations.
Acarbose, an anti-diabetes drug used to improve type 2 diabetes, may work for some models such as ulcerative colitis in part by producing large amounts of hydrogen in the small intestines.1 That said, acarbose comes with some unpleasant side effects such as stomach discomfort, gas, bloating, mild diarrhea, mild skin rash, and itching.
Sugar alcohols, or polyols, such as mannitol, xylitol, and sorbitol can all produce significant amounts of hydrogen in the small intestines due to malabsorption. In fact, significant mannitol consumption may lead to potentially explosive concentrations of hydrogen in the small intestine.2
Like acarbose, sugar alcohols may cause some gastrointestinal discomfort/side effects, and it is generally recommended they be avoided in the cases of low FODMAP diets (with the exception of erythritol).3,4
Of course, any potential benefits of endogenous rises in molecular hydrogen (and they could exist) would be dose- and duration-dependent, and likely more individualized than exogenous supplementation. Significant clinical research would be needed to verify potential benefits, let alone prove efficacy. This work has not been done, and specifically no work has been done, on H2 World’s products. In fact, H2 World does not even disclose the exact dosage of sugar alcohols in their products! I want to point out that one can purchase these sugar alcohols for dirt cheap and dose themselves at a far lower cost than H2 World is selling them for. Dosing your own sugar alcohols would also come with the same likelihood of benefit, as no clinical evidence exists for proper dosing, or benefits if proper dosing is found.
This lack of evidence does not stop H2 World. They march on, peddling their unproven products, all the while making claims associative with different products/methods to deliver hydrogen gas; even claims more aggressive than the evidence of efficacious products would allow. To remove what little doubt there was, as H2 World does not report that these products are capable of producing hydrogen gas, I tested both. See the videos below.
H2 Dente
One of H2 World’s products does produce a small amount of molecular hydrogen; it is called H2 Dente. “H2 Dente” is a product designed to be chewed for both “tooth health” and “neurological benefits.” As I mentioned, interestingly, this product actually produces hydrogen. The catch? It doesn’t produce very much at all when combined with an acidic solution, and produces virtually nothing in contact with saliva. I have commissioned lab reports to test for volumes of magnesium and hydrogen gas. I commissioned these after doing my own analysis, in the video below. (Lab reports attached as PDFs here)
These are the claims H2 World is making surrounding H2 Dente:
They claim to have “magnesium hydrogen carbonate” in the ingredients. Note: This is potentially done so that people believe there is “hydrogen” in the tablet. This ingredient is more commonly known as magnesium bicarbonate. It does not release hydrogen gas and does not actually exist in solid form — only in aqueous solutions.
Here is what they say about this product on the website (via Google Translate):
“immediate anti-inflammatory effect and pain relief”
And the big one: They imply that the almost non-existent amount of hydrogen, gassing up from the mouth to the brain, has neuroprotective effects and could potentially postpone the manifestation of Alzheimer’s or dementia. Wow! That is one claim!
First off, I have previously written about how the evidence for hydrogen and neuroprotection isn’t as promising as some suggest. There is some really cool evidence emerging for very high doses of hydrogen water, far beyond what H2 Dente delivers, and improvements in brain metabolism (i.e., evidence on the tablets, coming soon). Actually, a mouthful of water made using one of our hydrogen tablets will actually deliver more hydrogen to the teeth, gums, and brain than chewing on one of H2 World’s “H2 Dente” tablets!
At least this product makes some hydrogen-rich saliva, which is going to be somewhat consistent with hydrogen-rich water. That said, the dosage is virtually non-existent. See the gas chromatography results at the bottom if you doubt me.
H2 Forte
Let’s take a look at some of the marketing claims H2 World is making regarding their “intestinal hydrogen production” products. To remove all doubt, I did test H2 Forte to make sure that no molecular hydrogen is created when in contact with water (none is):
Here is what they say about this product on the website (via Google Translate):
“The sweeteners contained are not sugars and are therefore digested only in the colon. Subsequently (amongst other things) the absorption and exhalation of molecular hydrogen increases – a consequence of a bacterial decomposition (fermentation).”
“Mannitol – a natural carbohydrate
- in medicine it is used to reduce intrao-cular pressure and brain edema
- recently, it has been very successfully applied in Parkinson’s disease*
- it is however very poorly absorbed from the intstine, it is used by microbes in the digestive tract
- Mannitol administration in humans and animals significantly increases endogenous hydrogen levels”
*THIS IS A STRONG DISEASE CLAIM. In actuality, the evidence for Mannitol in Parkinson’s disease is not very convincing.5 Besides, the ongoing clinical trial for the use of Mannitol to potentially treat Parkinson’s disease utilizes a daily dosage of 18g — far more than the total dosage of all ingredients in H2 World’s products.6
H2 Immunity
Another new product, H2 Immunity, that H2 World launched is making the same claim:
“The carbohydrates inulin, trehalose, xylitol and arabinogalactans from deciduous larch release molecular hydrogen when in contact with the intestinal microflora.” (via Google Translate)
Here is what they say about this product on the website:
Google Translate version:
Conclusion
H2 World and David Marsalek have made great attempts to seem legitimate. My fear is that the lack of attention the researchers they have brought in for scientific conferences can pay attention to, or have paid attention to, H2 World’s commercial operations, has afforded H2 World an underserved illusion of legitimacy. This illusion of legitimacy has allowed David, and his company, to grow bolder and bolder each year. H2 World, to many consumers, may seem like an honest, science-based company. In reality, it is a complex organization predicated on smoke and mirrors, and deceit. Consumers and researchers alike should be wary.
References
1 Zhu, J.-H., Zhang, D.-Q., & Chen, W.-C. (2013). Managing ulcerative colitis by increasing hydrogen production via oral administration of acarbose. African Journal of Traditional, Complementary and Alternative Medicines: AJTCAM, 10(5): 356–359.
2 La Brooy, S. J., Fendick, C. L., Avgerinos, A., Williams, C. B., & Misiewicz, J. J. (1981). Potentially explosive colonic concentrations of hydrogen after bowel preparation with mannitol. The Lancet, 317(8221): 634–636.
3 Mäkinen, K. K. (2016). Gastrointestinal disturbances associated with the consumption of sugar alcohols with special consideration of xylitol: Scientific review and instructions for dentists and other health-care professionals. International Journal of Dentistry, 2016, 5967907.
4 Lenhart, A. & Chey, W. D. (2017). A systematic review of the effects of polyols on gastrointestinal health and irritable bowel syndrome. Advances in Nutrition, 8(4): 587–596.
5 https://parkinsonsnewstoday.com/2020/07/29/the-science-behind-mannitol-how-a-simple-sweetener-may-help-parkinsons-patients/
6 https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03823638
1 Comments
Alex, you are the greatest clearword speaker in this HRW world. Thank you so much for your SCAM blogs. I really enjoyed it. Karl