Protective effect of hydrogen-rich water on liver function of colorectal cancer patients treated with mFOLFOX6 chemotherapy
Yang Q, Ji G, Pan R, Zhao Y, Yan P. · Molecular and Clinical Oncology. 2017;7(5):891–896.
Study at a glance
Human
Adults with colorectal cancer receiving mFOLFOX6 chemotherapy.
1,000 mL/day hydrogen-rich water in four 250 mL portions, beginning the day before chemotherapy and continuing for four days in each treatment cycle. · The article reports a drinking-water dissolved-H₂ range of 0.27–0.4 ppm after preparation with 99.999% H₂.
Four days around each chemotherapy treatment; liver tests were evaluated on day 10.
ALT, AST and indirect bilirubin increased from baseline in the placebo group but not significantly in the hydrogen-water group. Between-group change comparisons favored hydrogen-rich water for ALT (p=0.04), AST (p=0.032) and indirect bilirubin (p=0.046); alkaline phosphatase and direct bilirubin did not show a significant protective difference. Tumor response, quality of life, progression-free survival and overall survival were not assessed.
Eight randomized participants were excluded from the final analysis. Allocation-sequence and concealment details were not reported, blinding was single rather than double, and no trial registration was printed. Outcomes were short-term laboratory markers, not cancer-control or survival outcomes. The accessible article did not print a funding or competing-interest statement; Hydrogenology does not infer absence of funding or conflicts.
What kind of evidence is this?
Human
Controlled randomized single-blind clinical 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
Adults with colorectal cancer receiving mFOLFOX6 chemotherapy.
152 recruited, 146 eligible and 144 randomized: 80 to hydrogen-rich water and 64 to placebo water. The final analysis included 136 participants (76 and 60, respectively).
Four days around each chemotherapy treatment; liver tests were evaluated on day 10.
1,000 mL/day hydrogen-rich water in four 250 mL portions, beginning the day before chemotherapy and continuing for four days in each treatment cycle.
H₂ dissolved in drinking water — H₂ only, not Brown's gas.
The article reports a drinking-water dissolved-H₂ range of 0.27–0.4 ppm after preparation with 99.999% H₂.
Distilled placebo water plus the same mFOLFOX6 chemotherapy.
Outcomes and reported result
Alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, direct bilirubin and indirect bilirubin.
ALT, AST and indirect bilirubin increased from baseline in the placebo group but not significantly in the hydrogen-water group. Between-group change comparisons favored hydrogen-rich water for ALT (p=0.04), AST (p=0.032) and indirect bilirubin (p=0.046); alkaline phosphatase and direct bilirubin did not show a significant protective difference. Tumor response, quality of life, progression-free survival and overall survival were not assessed.
The complete PubMed Central article, participant flow, preparation method, figures and both significant and non-significant liver tests were checked.
A reported association, difference or mechanism is not automatically a clinical benefit.
Limitations and applicability
Eight randomized participants were excluded from the final analysis. Allocation-sequence and concealment details were not reported, blinding was single rather than double, and no trial registration was printed. Outcomes were short-term laboratory markers, not cancer-control or survival outcomes. The accessible article did not print a funding or competing-interest statement; Hydrogenology does not infer absence of funding or conflicts.
Short-term liver-test changes during mFOLFOX6 in the studied colorectal-cancer population; not evidence that H₂ treats colorectal cancer.
No single-study GRADE certainty rating is assigned. Read how records and evidence assessments are prepared.
Sources and record status
PMID: 29142752 · DOI: 10.3892/mco.2017.1409
Free full article on PubMed Central.
PubMed metadata and complete PubMed Central article; full-text extraction checked 8 August 2026.
10 August 2026
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