The effects of 6-month hydrogen-rich water intake on molecular and phenotypic biomarkers of aging in older adults aged 70 years and over: A randomized controlled pilot trial
Zanini D, Todorovic N, Korovljev D, Stajer V, Ostojic J, Purac J, Kojic D, Vukasinovic E, Djordjievski S, Sopic M, Guzonjic A, Ninic A, Erceg S, Ostojic SM. · Exp Gerontol. 2021;155:111574.
Study at a glance
A six-month pilot in older adults found a borderline difference in a telomere measurement and selected secondary results. Most metabolic, sleep and cognitive measures were unchanged. These findings do not demonstrate slower aging or longer life.
Human
Apparently healthy adults aged at least 70, with normal/overweight BMI and no acute or major chronic disorder; age 76.0 ± 5.6 years; twenty women.
0.5 L/day at 15 ppm H₂ for six months: one Rejuvenation tablet in 250 mL tap water twice daily on an empty stomach. HRW Natural Health Products / DrinkHRW supplied the magnesium-reaction tablets; H₂ checked by gas chromatography. · 15 ppm dissolved H₂, 0.5 L/day; not gas inhalation.
Six months; no post-treatment follow-up.
Primary group-by-time P = 0.049: telomere ratio 0.99 ± 0.15 to 1.02 ± 0.26 with hydrogen versus 0.92 ± 0.27 to 0.79 ± 0.15 control. TET2 P = 0.040: 0.81 ± 0.52 to 1.62 ± 0.66 versus 1.13 ± 0.82 to 1.76 ± 0.87. Chair stands 10.6 ± 2.4 to 11.6 ± 2.6 versus 12.8 ± 2.1 to 12.5 ± 1.8 (P = 0.01); SF-36 pain 75 ± 23 to 79 ± 25 versus 78 ± 23 to 65 ± 27 (P = 0.05). Selected brain-metabolite regions favored hydrogen and one creatine region favored control, without demonstrated cognitive benefit. Global DNA methylation P = 0.166, MDA P = 0.17, FRAP P = 0.10 and magnesium P = 0.09 were nonsignificant. Most metabolic, lipid, glucose/insulin, hormone, oxidation/inflammation, blood-pressure, body-composition and physical comparisons were null. Sleep total P = 0.69, getting asleep P = 0.11, daytime dysfunction P = 0.15; MMSE P = 0.81, ADAS-Cog total P = 0.97; facial features P = 0.98. Adherence by tablet counts: 96.2% versus 97.8%.
Small complete-case pilot, many secondary outcomes and brain regions, no clearly reported multiplicity adjustment, borderline primary P value, uncertain arm denominators and concealment/blinding. Surrogate signals do not establish longevity, anti-aging or cognitive benefit.
What kind of evidence is this?
Human
Randomized placebo-controlled parallel pilot at the University of Novi Sad. Missing data were excluded. Blinding and allocation concealment procedures were not sufficiently described to confirm double blinding.
Skin, wound and aging 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
Apparently healthy adults aged at least 70, with normal/overweight BMI and no acute or major chronic disorder; age 76.0 ± 5.6 years; twenty women.
40 enrolled; 34 completed; six withdrawals, four hydrogen and two control, described as unrelated to the study without detailed individual reasons. Exact randomized and analyzed arm denominators were not explicitly stated; allocation is not inferred from the total.
Six months; no post-treatment follow-up.
0.5 L/day at 15 ppm H₂ for six months: one Rejuvenation tablet in 250 mL tap water twice daily on an empty stomach. HRW Natural Health Products / DrinkHRW supplied the magnesium-reaction tablets; H₂ checked by gas chromatography.
Hydrogen-rich water
15 ppm dissolved H₂, 0.5 L/day; not gas inhalation.
Similar appearance, texture and sensory properties, 0 ppm H₂, matched total magnesium. Usual diet/activity maintained; other supplements avoided.
Outcomes and reported result
Primary: relative telomere length by qPCR. Numerous secondary molecular, metabolic, brain-spectroscopy, physical, sleep, cognitive and quality-of-life measures.
Primary group-by-time P = 0.049: telomere ratio 0.99 ± 0.15 to 1.02 ± 0.26 with hydrogen versus 0.92 ± 0.27 to 0.79 ± 0.15 control. TET2 P = 0.040: 0.81 ± 0.52 to 1.62 ± 0.66 versus 1.13 ± 0.82 to 1.76 ± 0.87. Chair stands 10.6 ± 2.4 to 11.6 ± 2.6 versus 12.8 ± 2.1 to 12.5 ± 1.8 (P = 0.01); SF-36 pain 75 ± 23 to 79 ± 25 versus 78 ± 23 to 65 ± 27 (P = 0.05). Selected brain-metabolite regions favored hydrogen and one creatine region favored control, without demonstrated cognitive benefit. Global DNA methylation P = 0.166, MDA P = 0.17, FRAP P = 0.10 and magnesium P = 0.09 were nonsignificant. Most metabolic, lipid, glucose/insulin, hormone, oxidation/inflammation, blood-pressure, body-composition and physical comparisons were null. Sleep total P = 0.69, getting asleep P = 0.11, daytime dysfunction P = 0.15; MMSE P = 0.81, ADAS-Cog total P = 0.97; facial features P = 0.98. Adherence by tablet counts: 96.2% versus 97.8%.
Main-text methods, results, limitations and declarations were reviewed. Source versions, missing information and conflicting findings are stated in this record.
No major side effects precluding participation reported, using an open-ended questionnaire. Detailed event counts were incomplete; general long-term safety is not established.
A reported association, difference or mechanism is not automatically a clinical benefit.
Limitations and applicability
Small complete-case pilot, many secondary outcomes and brain regions, no clearly reported multiplicity adjustment, borderline primary P value, uncertain arm denominators and concealment/blinding. Surrogate signals do not establish longevity, anti-aging or cognitive benefit.
Limited to the population/model and protocol described above. These findings do not provide a treatment, concentration or device recommendation.
Serbian Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development 175037; Provincial Secretariat for Higher Education and Scientific Research 142-451-3097; Faculty of Sport and Physical Education, Novi Sad; HRW Natural Health Products Inc.
Authors declare no conflicts. Commercial company funding/support is separately disclosed.
No single-study GRADE certainty rating is assigned. Read how records and evidence assessments are prepared.
Sources and record status
PMID: 34601077 · DOI: 10.1016/j.exger.2021.111574
Complete final Experimental Gerontology article, eight journal pages plus a ResearchGate cover identifying coauthor Jelena Purac’s upload on 11 October 2021; hosted by Molecular Hydrogen Institute.
AI-assisted editorial review of the available main full text, 29 October 2026. No independent clinical or statistical assessment has been performed.
All main Methods 2.1–2.4, Results, Tables 1–4, Figures 1–2/captions, Discussion/limitations, ethics, consent, data availability, contributions, competing interests, acknowledgments and funding.
AI-assisted editorial review of the available main full text, 29 October 2026. Complete final Experimental Gerontology article, eight journal pages plus a ResearchGate cover identifying coauthor Jelena Purac’s upload on 11 October 2021; hosted by Molecular Hydrogen Institute.
NCT04430803; ethics University of Novi Sad 46-06-01/2020-1.
29 October 2026
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