Effects of hydrogen rich water on prolonged intermittent exercise
Da Ponte A et al. · J Sports Med Phys Fitness. 2018;58(5):612–621.
Study at a glance
Human
Trained male cyclists
Hydrogen-rich water, 2 L/day · 450 ppb free H₂; pH 9.8 and oxidation-reduction potential −180 mV reported.
2 weeks per condition
Peak power declined during later sprints in the placebo condition but not after H₂ water. Mean power, fatigue index, time to peak power, total work, lactate, pH and bicarbonate did not differ between conditions.
Only eight participants, single blinding, multiple sprint comparisons and a specialized protocol; most performance and acid-base outcomes did not differ between conditions.
What kind of evidence is this?
Human
Randomized counter-balanced single-blind crossover controlled trial
Exercise and recovery
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
Trained male cyclists
8 participants
2 weeks per condition
Hydrogen-rich water, 2 L/day
H₂ dissolved in water — H₂ only, not Brown’s gas.
450 ppb free H₂; pH 9.8 and oxidation-reduction potential −180 mV reported.
2 L/day placebo water with 0 ppb H₂, pH 7.6 and oxidation-reduction potential +230 mV
Outcomes and reported result
Cycling power, fatigue index, blood lactate, pH and bicarbonate
Peak power declined during later sprints in the placebo condition but not after H₂ water. Mean power, fatigue index, time to peak power, total work, lactate, pH and bicarbonate did not differ between conditions.
Methods and principal results checked against the author-uploaded full-text PDF and PubMed abstract; independent appraisal remains incomplete.
A reported association, difference or mechanism is not automatically a clinical benefit.
Limitations and applicability
Only eight participants, single blinding, multiple sprint comparisons and a specialized protocol; most performance and acid-base outcomes did not differ between conditions.
Trained male cyclists under a controlled intermittent-cycling protocol.
Cochrane RoB 2 crossover variant · repeated-sprint peak-power result
Some concerns — preliminary; independent reviewer pending
Eight-person, single-blind crossover trial with many sprint-level comparisons. Counterbalancing is reported, but allocation concealment, blinding effectiveness, period effects and multiplicity need fuller verification.
Some concerns — randomized counterbalanced sequence is reported; concealment detail is limited. · Some concerns — single blinding and visibly different pH/ORP may have affected masking; adherence detail requires review. · Low concern in the displayed report — analyzed sample is reported as eight participants. · Low to some concerns — power and blood measures are objective, but test personnel blinding is unclear. · Some concerns — multiple sprint comparisons and outcomes; a prespecified analysis plan was not identified.
No single-study GRADE certainty rating is assigned. Read how records and evidence assessments are prepared.
Sources and record status
PMID: 28474871 · DOI: 10.23736/S0022-4707.17.06883-9
Publisher access is restricted.
Author-uploaded ResearchGate full text and PubMed bibliographic record.
10 August 2026
Help people check the facts before they buy.
Hydrogenology keeps 665 source-checked records accessible without advertising or product promotion.
Help us correct the recordReport a discrepancy
Send the exact difference between this page and the linked source. The study reference is attached automatically.