Effects of drinking hydrogen-rich water on the quality of life of patients treated with radiotherapy for liver tumors
Kang KM et al. · Med Gas Res. 2011;1:11.
Study at a glance
Human
People receiving radiotherapy for malignant liver tumors
Hydrogen-rich water, 1.5–2.0 L/day · 0.55–0.65 mM dissolved H₂, generated with magnesium sticks.
6 weeks from the first day of radiotherapy
Several quality-of-life and oxidative-stress measures favored H₂ water, while fatigue, depression, sleep, vomiting and diarrhea did not consistently differ. Tumor response was similar: 48% versus 50%.
Small, short study with heterogeneous liver tumors and questionnaire outcomes. No difference in tumor response was reported. The authors declared no competing interests; the Daimaru Research Foundation funded the work.
What kind of evidence is this?
Human
Randomized placebo-controlled parallel trial
Cancer research
H₂-rich water
Information not yet classified
Some editorial classification fields are still pending. The source-reported outcomes and result are shown below; Hydrogenology does not infer a positive or negative signal from prose automatically.
Methods
People receiving radiotherapy for malignant liver tumors
49 participants: H₂ water n=25; placebo n=24
6 weeks from the first day of radiotherapy
Hydrogen-rich water, 1.5–2.0 L/day
H₂ dissolved in water — H₂ only, not Brown’s gas.
0.55–0.65 mM dissolved H₂, generated with magnesium sticks.
Placebo water during radiotherapy
Outcomes and reported result
EORTC QLQ-C30 quality of life, oxidative-stress measures and tumor response
Several quality-of-life and oxidative-stress measures favored H₂ water, while fatigue, depression, sleep, vomiting and diarrhea did not consistently differ. Tumor response was similar: 48% versus 50%.
Intervention, methods, full results, funding and conflict statement checked in the free full text; independent appraisal remains incomplete.
A reported association, difference or mechanism is not automatically a clinical benefit.
Limitations and applicability
Small, short study with heterogeneous liver tumors and questionnaire outcomes. No difference in tumor response was reported. The authors declared no competing interests; the Daimaru Research Foundation funded the work.
People receiving radiotherapy for malignant liver tumors under this study’s conditions.
No single-study GRADE certainty rating is assigned. Read how records and evidence assessments are prepared.
Sources and record status
PMID: 22146004 · DOI: 10.1186/2045-9912-1-11
Open-access full text is available through PMC and the publisher.
Open-access PMC and publisher full texts plus PubMed bibliographic record.
10 August 2026
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