Effect of supplementation with hydrogen-rich water in patients with interstitial cystitis/painful bladder syndrome
Matsumoto S, Ueda T, Kakizaki H. · Urology. 2013;81(2):226–230.
Study at a glance
In a small eight-week trial, hydrogen-rich water did not improve bladder symptoms more than placebo water. Pain improved within both groups, which does not establish a hydrogen-specific effect.
Human
Patients aged at least 50 with persistent interstitial cystitis/painful bladder syndrome, stable for at least 12 weeks after hydrodistension; ICSI at least 7 and bladder-pain question 4 at least 4.
600 mL/day in three sealed 200 mL aluminum pouches for eight weeks; direct gas dissolution in purified water supplied by I’rom Pharmaceutical, Tokyo. · Dissolved H₂ 1.2 ± 0.1 ppm; pH 6.7 ± 0.1; dissolved O₂ 0.8 ± 0.2 mg/L.
Eight weeks.
No significant superiority over placebo for symptoms or voiding outcomes. Bladder-pain ICSI: hydrogen 4.3 ± 0.5 to 3.1 ± 1.3 (P = 0.001), placebo 4.4 ± 0.5 to 3.2 ± 1.3 (P = 0.047); these are within-arm changes. VAS: 6.0 ± 1.9 to 4.9 ± 2.8 (P = 0.186) versus 6.3 ± 1.5 to 5.1 ± 2.4 (P = 0.182). Two of 18 hydrogen participants had VAS below 1, an exploratory observation. ICSI total: 13.2 to 11.4 (P = 0.217) versus 13.3 to 11.2 (P = 0.141); 24-hour frequency 13.0 to 14.3 versus 13.1 to 12.5. No controlled effect was established for ICSI, ICPI, PUF, urgency, frequency, voided volume or pain.
Small trial, only ten controls, completer analysis and two withdrawals. Diet and lifestyle were not controlled; additional fluid may contribute to shared improvement. Delivery to bladder tissues and adequacy of exposure are uncertain.
What kind of evidence is this?
Human
Prospective randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled parallel trial with 2:1 allocation in Japan; recruitment April 2008–July 2009.
Kidney and urinary health
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
Patients aged at least 50 with persistent interstitial cystitis/painful bladder syndrome, stable for at least 12 weeks after hydrodistension; ICSI at least 7 and bladder-pain question 4 at least 4.
30 randomized: 20 hydrogen and 10 placebo; 28 completed and analyzed: 18 hydrogen and 10 placebo. Enrolled: 29 women and 1 man; completers: 27 women and 1 man. Mean age 64.0 ± 14.8 years. Two women withdrew, one by personal decision and one because of concomitant antioxidant supplements.
Eight weeks.
600 mL/day in three sealed 200 mL aluminum pouches for eight weeks; direct gas dissolution in purified water supplied by I’rom Pharmaceutical, Tokyo.
Hydrogen-rich water
Dissolved H₂ 1.2 ± 0.1 ppm; pH 6.7 ± 0.1; dissolved O₂ 0.8 ± 0.2 mg/L.
600 mL/day placebo purified water; diet, lifestyle and medicines were to remain stable.
Outcomes and reported result
Patient-reported symptom improvement: ICSI/ICPI, pelvic pain and urgency/frequency scales, bladder-pain VAS and three-day voiding diary.
No significant superiority over placebo for symptoms or voiding outcomes. Bladder-pain ICSI: hydrogen 4.3 ± 0.5 to 3.1 ± 1.3 (P = 0.001), placebo 4.4 ± 0.5 to 3.2 ± 1.3 (P = 0.047); these are within-arm changes. VAS: 6.0 ± 1.9 to 4.9 ± 2.8 (P = 0.186) versus 6.3 ± 1.5 to 5.1 ± 2.4 (P = 0.182). Two of 18 hydrogen participants had VAS below 1, an exploratory observation. ICSI total: 13.2 to 11.4 (P = 0.217) versus 13.3 to 11.2 (P = 0.141); 24-hour frequency 13.0 to 14.3 versus 13.1 to 12.5. No controlled effect was established for ICSI, ICPI, PUF, urgency, frequency, voided volume or pain.
Main-text methods, results, limitations and declarations were reviewed. Source versions, missing information and conflicting findings are stated in this record.
Participants reported no adverse events during this small eight-week trial; broader safety is not established.
A reported association, difference or mechanism is not automatically a clinical benefit.
Limitations and applicability
Small trial, only ten controls, completer analysis and two withdrawals. Diet and lifestyle were not controlled; additional fluid may contribute to shared improvement. Delivery to bladder tissues and adequacy of exposure are uncertain.
Limited to the population/model and protocol described above. These findings do not provide a treatment, concentration or device recommendation.
Public Health Research Foundation Comprehensive Support Project for Clinical Research Office on Lifestyle-related disease.
Authors declare no relevant financial interests.
No single-study GRADE certainty rating is assigned. Read how records and evidence assessments are prepared.
Sources and record status
PMID: 23374763 · DOI: 10.1016/j.urology.2012.10.026
Complete final journal article, Urology 81(2), 226–230, five pages, hosted by Biolifeco (commercial site).
AI-assisted editorial review of the available main full text, 29 October 2026. No independent clinical or statistical assessment has been performed.
Pages 226–230: Abstract; Introduction; Material and Methods; Results; Table 1 and Figures 1–2/captions; Comment; Conclusion; disclosure, funding and references.
AI-assisted editorial review of the available main full text, 29 October 2026. Complete final journal article, Urology 81(2), 226–230, five pages, hosted by Biolifeco (commercial site).
JPRN-UMIN000001253. An earlier conference abstract describes the same cohort; the final article supplies the participant accounting.
29 October 2026
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