Hydrogen Rich Water Improved Ventilatory, Perceptual and Lactate Responses to Exercise
Botek M, Krejčí J, McKune AJ, Sládečková B, Naumovski N. · Int J Sports Med. 2019;40(14):879–885.
Study at a glance
In twelve healthy men, hydrogen water before cycling reduced lactate at harder stages and slightly lowered breathing and effort ratings at the hardest stage. Heart rate and oxygen use were unchanged; actual sporting performance was not tested.
Human
Healthy nonsmoking male sports-science participants; age 27.1 ± 4.9 years, mass 77.3 ± 7.6 kg, baseline VO₂max 51.1 ± 6.1 mL/kg/min.
600 mL fresh hydrogen water: 300 mL thirty minutes and 300 mL one minute before cycling. TIENS Hyper-H Health Cup electrolytic generator, same bottled source water, 22°C. · 0.5 ppm H₂ by H₂ Blue reagent; reported 150 µmol total (approximately 0.30 mg), 1.96 ± 0.19 µmol/kg; pH 7.4, ORP −400 mV.
One acute dose per condition, one-week washout; fixed 34-minute cycling protocol: ten minutes at 1 W/kg, then eight minutes each at 2, 3 and 4 W/kg.
Lactate at 3 W/kg: 4.0 ± 1.6 versus 5.1 ± 1.9 mmol/L, P = 0.007; at 4 W/kg: 8.9 ± 2.2 versus 10.6 ± 3.0, P = 0.006. At 4 W/kg, ventilation P = 0.011, VE/VO₂ 32.3 ± 7.2 versus 35.0 ± 8.4 (P = 0.009), RPE 17.8 ± 1.2 versus 18.5 ± 0.8 (P = 0.012). These meet the authors’ 0.05/3 threshold. Heart rate, VO₂ and respiratory quotient were unchanged at every intensity; all P > 0.109 at 4 W/kg. Other measures at 3 W/kg all P > 0.339; all measures at 2 W/kg P > 0.458. Body mass between visits P = 0.528.
Twelve young men, acute fixed-workload protocol, many correlated endpoints; correction covered three intensities per measure, not every outcome family. pH/ORP also differed. The RPE difference was below one point. No race performance, time-to-exhaustion, treatment-related VO₂max gain or clinical benefit was demonstrated; optimal dose/timing and oxidative mechanisms were not established.
What kind of evidence is this?
Human
Randomized double-blind placebo-controlled crossover; initial six per sequence by drawing coloured lots; one-week washout.
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
Healthy nonsmoking male sports-science participants; age 27.1 ± 4.9 years, mass 77.3 ± 7.6 kg, baseline VO₂max 51.1 ± 6.1 mL/kg/min.
Twelve men, all in paired analyses; no attrition reported.
One acute dose per condition, one-week washout; fixed 34-minute cycling protocol: ten minutes at 1 W/kg, then eight minutes each at 2, 3 and 4 W/kg.
600 mL fresh hydrogen water: 300 mL thirty minutes and 300 mL one minute before cycling. TIENS Hyper-H Health Cup electrolytic generator, same bottled source water, 22°C.
Hydrogen-rich water
0.5 ppm H₂ by H₂ Blue reagent; reported 150 µmol total (approximately 0.30 mg), 1.96 ± 0.19 µmol/kg; pH 7.4, ORP −400 mV.
600 mL unprocessed bottled water, zero H₂, pH 7.2, ORP +270 mV, 22°C; participants and researchers blinded until analysis completed.
Outcomes and reported result
Last-minute cardiorespiratory measurements, lactate and Borg RPE at fixed workloads. Baseline VO₂max characterizes the participants, not a treatment-related gain.
Lactate at 3 W/kg: 4.0 ± 1.6 versus 5.1 ± 1.9 mmol/L, P = 0.007; at 4 W/kg: 8.9 ± 2.2 versus 10.6 ± 3.0, P = 0.006. At 4 W/kg, ventilation P = 0.011, VE/VO₂ 32.3 ± 7.2 versus 35.0 ± 8.4 (P = 0.009), RPE 17.8 ± 1.2 versus 18.5 ± 0.8 (P = 0.012). These meet the authors’ 0.05/3 threshold. Heart rate, VO₂ and respiratory quotient were unchanged at every intensity; all P > 0.109 at 4 W/kg. Other measures at 3 W/kg all P > 0.339; all measures at 2 W/kg P > 0.458. Body mass between visits P = 0.528.
Main-text methods, results, limitations and declarations were reviewed. Source versions, missing information and conflicting findings are stated in this record.
No side effects during/after hydrogen water reported; a small acute physiological study cannot establish general safety.
A reported association, difference or mechanism is not automatically a clinical benefit.
Limitations and applicability
Twelve young men, acute fixed-workload protocol, many correlated endpoints; correction covered three intensities per measure, not every outcome family. pH/ORP also differed. The RPE difference was below one point. No race performance, time-to-exhaustion, treatment-related VO₂max gain or clinical benefit was demonstrated; optimal dose/timing and oxidative mechanisms were not established.
Limited to the population/model and protocol described above. These findings do not provide a treatment, concentration or device recommendation.
Partial Palacký University Olomouc grant IGA_FTK_2019_002; partial results presented at Nutrition Society Australia, Canberra 2018.
Authors declare no conflicts.
No single-study GRADE certainty rating is assigned. Read how records and evidence assessments are prepared.
Sources and record status
PMID: 31574544 · DOI: 10.1055/a-0991-0268
Complete seven-page typeset online-first article, with 2019;00:00–00 header and University of Georgia watermark, hosted by Fisiología del Ejercicio. Final issue citation: 40(14), 879–885.
AI-assisted editorial review of the available main full text, 29 October 2026. No independent clinical or statistical assessment has been performed.
All seven online-first pages: Methods; Tables 1–2; Figures 1–2; Results; Discussion/limitations; Acknowledgments and Conflict of Interest.
AI-assisted editorial review of the available main full text, 29 October 2026. Complete seven-page typeset online-first article, with 2019;00:00–00 header and University of Georgia watermark, hosted by Fisiología del Ejercicio. Final issue citation: 40(14), 879–885.
Ethics Palacký University 75/2017; no trial-registration identifier reported.
29 October 2026
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