The Effects of 24-Week, High-Concentration Hydrogen-Rich Water on Body Composition, Blood Lipid Profiles and Inflammation Biomarkers in Men and Women with Metabolic Syndrome: A Randomized Controlled Trial
LeBaron TW et al. · Diabetes Metab Syndr Obes. 2020;13:889–896.
Study at a glance
Human
Men and women with metabolic syndrome
One hydrogen-producing tablet in 250 mL water three times daily; 750 mL/day and more than 5.5 mmol H₂/day · >5.5 mmol H₂ per day; tablets were dissolved immediately before drinking.
24 weeks
The article reports between-group improvements in several metabolic, inflammatory and redox measures; TBARS did not improve and HDL also decreased slightly. Clinical importance was not established.
Small trial with many outcomes. HRW Natural Health Products provided funding and the DrinkHRW tablets were donated by Alex Tarnava and his company; this commercial involvement is relevant when interpreting the report.
What kind of evidence is this?
Human
Randomized double-blind placebo-controlled parallel trial
Metabolic and lipid 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
Men and women with metabolic syndrome
60 participants: 30 men and 30 women
24 weeks
One hydrogen-producing tablet in 250 mL water three times daily; 750 mL/day and more than 5.5 mmol H₂/day
H₂ dissolved in water — H₂ only, not Brown’s gas.
>5.5 mmol H₂ per day; tablets were dissolved immediately before drinking.
Matched placebo tablets in the same volume of water
Outcomes and reported result
Body composition, glucose and HbA1c, lipid profile, inflammatory and redox biomarkers
The article reports between-group improvements in several metabolic, inflammatory and redox measures; TBARS did not improve and HDL also decreased slightly. Clinical importance was not established.
Methods, principal tables, funding and commercial involvement checked in the free full text; independent appraisal remains incomplete.
A reported association, difference or mechanism is not automatically a clinical benefit.
Limitations and applicability
Small trial with many outcomes. HRW Natural Health Products provided funding and the DrinkHRW tablets were donated by Alex Tarnava and his company; this commercial involvement is relevant when interpreting the report.
Adults with metabolic syndrome meeting this trial’s criteria.
No single-study GRADE certainty rating is assigned. Read how records and evidence assessments are prepared.
Sources and record status
PMID: 32273740 · DOI: 10.2147/DMSO.S240122
Open-access article.
Free full text on PMC and publisher page; identifiers cross-checked in PubMed.
10 August 2026
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