Acute ingestion of hydrogen-rich water does not improve incremental treadmill running performance in endurance-trained athletes
Ooi CH, Ng SK, Omar EA. · Applied physiology, nutrition, and metabolism = Physiologie appliquee, nutrition et metabolisme. 2020;45(5):513–519.
Study at a glance
Fourteen trained male runners tested hydrogen-rich water and plain water on separate days. With two 290 mL doses before exercise, they ran for almost the same time: 618 seconds versus 619 seconds. Oxygen use and other measured exercise responses were also similar. This small study tested short-term use only.
Human
14 endurance-trained male runners/triathletes, mean age 34 ± 4 years, mass 63.1 ± 7.2 kg, height 1.72 ± 0.05 m.
Two 290 mL doses (total 580 mL) of hydrogen-rich water in one test session; each consumed within 1–2 minutes, 5–10 minutes before submaximal running and before the subsequent maximal incremental test. · Measured dissolved hydrogen: 1.02 ± 0.05 ppm. Two 290 mL doses (580 mL total) were consumed around the exercise tests.
Single-session exposure on each of two experimental visits, separated by at least 7 days; two prior familiarization visits.
Time to exhaustion 618 ± 126 s with H2-water versus 619 ± 113 s placebo; no statistically significant difference. VO₂ max 56.9 ± 4.4 versus 57.1 ± 4.7 mL/kg/min; running economy 197 ± 12 versus 198 ± 12 mL/kg/km; maximal heart rate 184 ± 7 in both conditions. Lactate threshold, perceived exertion and blood lactate/glucose/bicarbonate/pH responses also did not differ significantly.
Small male trained-athlete sample. Acute dosing only; no inference about chronic use or other populations. Hydrogen uptake in participants not measured. Endogenous H2 production not controlled. Some biochemical samples unavailable.
What kind of evidence is this?
Human
Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover; four laboratory visits at least 7 days apart, first two familiarization, last two experimental conditions.
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
14 endurance-trained male runners/triathletes, mean age 34 ± 4 years, mass 63.1 ± 7.2 kg, height 1.72 ± 0.05 m.
14 randomized crossover participants and 14 analyzed for exercise outcomes; 13 for blood-gas/submaximal biochemical outcomes and 12 for post-exercise serum lactate because of sampling constraints.
Single-session exposure on each of two experimental visits, separated by at least 7 days; two prior familiarization visits.
Two 290 mL doses (total 580 mL) of hydrogen-rich water in one test session; each consumed within 1–2 minutes, 5–10 minutes before submaximal running and before the subsequent maximal incremental test.
Molecular hydrogen dissolved in drinking water.
Measured dissolved hydrogen: 1.02 ± 0.05 ppm. Two 290 mL doses (580 mL total) were consumed around the exercise tests.
Same volumes/timing of distilled water without electrolysis; hydrogen not detected. Independent investigator prepared drinks; participants and outcome staff blinded, and participants could not distinguish drinks.
Outcomes and reported result
Exercise performance/time to exhaustion, alongside prespecified physiological exercise responses; no prospectively registered hierarchy identified.
Time to exhaustion 618 ± 126 s with H2-water versus 619 ± 113 s placebo; no statistically significant difference. VO₂ max 56.9 ± 4.4 versus 57.1 ± 4.7 mL/kg/min; running economy 197 ± 12 versus 198 ± 12 mL/kg/km; maximal heart rate 184 ± 7 in both conditions. Lactate threshold, perceived exertion and blood lactate/glucose/bicarbonate/pH responses also did not differ significantly.
The available main full text was reviewed for methods, results, limitations and declarations. Remaining source-specific uncertainties are stated in this record.
All 14 participants reported no side effects after H2-water. Questionnaire included headache, diarrhea, stomach upset and vomiting; single-session observation cannot establish long-term safety.
A reported association, difference or mechanism is not automatically a clinical benefit.
Limitations and applicability
Small male trained-athlete sample. Acute dosing only; no inference about chronic use or other populations. Hydrogen uptake in participants not measured. Endogenous H2 production not controlled. Some biochemical samples unavailable.
14 endurance-trained male runners/triathletes, mean age 34 ± 4 years, mass 63.1 ± 7.2 kg, height 1.72 ± 0.05 m. Findings apply only to the studied design and exposure; no treatment or device recommendation.
Industry-sponsored grant PRO-S-1031-U721 from Sterling Circle Sdn Bhd to C.H.O. and S.K.N. Authors state that the sponsor had no role in design, data collection or analysis, publication decision or manuscript preparation.
Authors declare no conflicts of interest.
No single-study GRADE certainty rating is assigned. Read how records and evidence assessments are prepared.
Sources and record status
PMID: 31675478 · DOI: 10.1139/apnm-2019-0553
Complete author manuscript, revision R2 dated 21 October 2019, in the University of Toronto TSpace/Scholaris repository; cover plus 28 manuscript pages, marked Draft; not the publisher-typeset version.
AI-assisted editorial review of the available main full text, 29 October 2026. The source version and access limitations are stated in this record. No independent clinical or statistical assessment has been performed.
Entire 29-page PDF Methods: PDF pp 7–12 Results: PDF pp 12–13 Discussion and limitations: PDF pp 13–19 Funding/conflicts: PDF p 20 Table 1: PDF p 24 (also visually verified) Figure captions and figures: PDF pp 25–29
AI-assisted editorial review of the available main full text, 29 October 2026. Complete author manuscript, revision R2 dated 21 October 2019, in the University of Toronto TSpace/Scholaris repository; cover plus 28 manuscript pages, marked Draft; not the publisher-typeset version.
Trial registration not reported. Ethics approval USM/JEPeM/15100446. Distinct from catalogued treadmill study PMID 36538554 and cold-water/heat study PMID 40731803.
29 October 2026
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