Alex Tarnava Featured in SiimLand Podcast
December 22, 2020Biomaterials for healthcare
December 27, 2020Review of HFactor Hydrogen Water
I previously wrote an article breaking down various technologies to make hydrogen water or deliver molecular hydrogen through internal hydrogen production (also, briefly touching base on hydrogen inhalation). Despite my assessments being based on fact, supported by independent third parties, and being completely testable and reproducible, we get numerous emails claiming we are slandering other technologies for our own gain, with “made up results”. The only solution was to commission lab reports, video my own testing, and break it all down as clearly as possible.
This week, I am breaking down Hfactor hydrogen water, one of the most popular and widely advertised commercial entities on the market. Below you will find a lab report testing hydrogen concentration, my own video testing hydrogen concentration, my breakdown of their marketing claims and lack of substantiation, and a comparative table examining differences between Hfactor hydrogen water and Rejuvenation hydrogen tablets for dosage, concentration, legal status, supporting research, and value.
HFactor Label Claims
Of note, the International Hydrogen Standards Association (IHSA) has set a minimum observed threshold of 0.5mg/L concentration with a water volume of 1L consumed, for a dosage of 0.5mg of H2, as the lowest amount of hydrogen that could potentially create a benefit in any (but not all) conditions where hydrogen water has shown to be potentially effective. HFactor delivers 0.1625mg per pouch, meaning that even three pouches would fall short of the minimum dosage that could even potentially be therapeutic. Of course, hydrogen concentration matters; hydrogen benefits have been shown to be both dose- and concentration-dependent.
HFactor hydrogen water has the statement “Clinically Proven To” followed by three claims. First off, HFactor water has not been used in any clinical research, so it is trying to piggyback off of other clinical research (at dramatically different concentrations and dosages) to support its own claims. Due to differences in dosage and concentration, what it is trying to do does not amount to substantiation, and its claims are not legally valid.
Its first two claims of “increase athletic performance” and “reduce inflammation from exercise” are not substantiated clinically by HFactor, and the clinical evidence does not support this for the dosage it is delivering. I review some exercise results in the second installment of why concentration matters with hydrogen water. In fact, I do not recall there being any research in humans that demonstrates HRW reduces inflammation post-exercise (there is preclinical research). My estimation is HFactor wanted to make a claim regarding “inflammation” front and center on its label but knew that this claim is only allowable for pharmaceutical drugs, as the claim is associated with disease states. By saying “from exercise” it may believe it’s being clever, however, the evidence does not support this, and certainly does not support it for HFactor’s delivered concentration and dosage.
The final claim is “deliver powerful antioxidants.”. First, there is no evidence that molecular hydrogen is capable of acting as a direct antioxidant in vivo, meaning in the living body. Molecular hydrogen does promote our own antioxidant defenses, so this claim is more based on semantics and their understanding, or lack thereof, of the science. I previously wrote a short article explaining the differences between molecular hydrogen and typical antioxidants.
HFactor then goes on to insinuate that their water repairs environmental stress, soothes soreness, and amps energy — none of which it has evidence for, or has its delivered dosage been clinically validated to do.
Finally, its CEO Gail Levy makes some bogus claims such as Hfactor uses an aluminum pouch to store hydrogen water better, despite the fact its pouches have a plastic cap, completely defeating the purpose. She also claims a benefit is that it does not add magnesium, insinuating it is negative since it is a “chemical process,” despite close to 90% of the population is deficient in magnesium.
“And while other hydrogen infused waters use techniques that leave behind impurities or other additives such as Magnesium”
HFactor uses the slogan “Follow the movement
That’s Fact, Not Fad.”
I think it would be better served following the science – something it has yet to do.
Lab Results
H2 Blue Video Results
I wanted to give HFactor hydrogen water a fair assessment. I know that virtually no one has used H2 Blue more than I have; the manufacturer of H2 Blue, Randy from H2 Sciences, and I have joked about who has used the reagent more, him or myself. That said, the concentration is so low that I did not anticipate any deviation. I did get 1 drop less than the lab report, so we will use their test results rather than mine.
Comparative Guide Drink HRW Rejuvenation vs. HFactor
Criteria | HFactor | Rejuvenation |
---|---|---|
NDI/GRAS Status, US Legal Requirement | ❌ | ✅ |
Third Party Gas Chromatography Results | ❌ | ✅ |
Certified by the International Hydrogen Standards Association | ❌ | ✅ |
Clinically Validated | ❌ | ✅ |
Hydrogen per dosage, in milligrams | 0.1625 | 6.2mg |
Hydrogen concentration | 0.5mg/L | 12.4mg |
Cost | $2.50 per pouch, cases of 6 | $1 based on 60 tablets for 59.99 |
Cost per milligram of H | $15.38 | $0.16 |
1 Comments
Nailed it again, Alex!