Effects of hydrogen water and psychological treatment in a sample of women with panic disorder: a randomized and controlled clinical trial
Fernández-Serrano AB, Moya-Faz FJ, Giner Alegría CA, Fernández Rodríguez JC, Soriano Guilabert JF, del Toro Mellado M. · Health Psychology Research. 2022;10(2):35468.
Study at a glance
Human
Women aged 19–64 years with panic disorder treated at two mental-health centers in Murcia, Spain; several participants had comorbid anxiety or chronic inflammatory conditions.
1.5 L/day of generator-produced hydrogen-rich water, divided into six 250 mL portions, alongside twelve weekly 90-minute group cognitive-behavioral-therapy sessions. · The article reports approximately 1.2 ppm dissolved H₂ and oxidation-reduction potential of −550 mV. Water was stored in aluminum bottles and the article states that properties were retained for up to 8 hours.
Three months; twelve weekly psychological-treatment sessions.
The article's main between-group conclusion was negative: adding hydrogen-rich water was not significantly better than placebo water. All six reported cytokine between-group tests were non-significant (p=0.30–0.92). Numerical cytokine reductions and some physical-health/body-pain measures favored the H₂ group, while pooled within-group improvements largely reflected psychological treatment and cannot be attributed to H₂.
Very small women-only trial, two centers, many outcomes, baseline imbalances and a strong cognitive-behavioral co-intervention that prevents isolating most within-group changes. Registration was retrospective. One author was manager of Osmostar Soriano S.L., and the article acknowledged the hydrogen company even though the authors declared no competing interests; this commercial connection is retained explicitly.
What kind of evidence is this?
Human
Randomized placebo-controlled parallel trial with cognitive-behavioral therapy in both groups
Other neurological conditions
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
Women aged 19–64 years with panic disorder treated at two mental-health centers in Murcia, Spain; several participants had comorbid anxiety or chronic inflammatory conditions.
25 women completed the study: hydrogen-water plus psychological treatment n=12 and placebo water plus the same psychological treatment n=13.
Three months; twelve weekly psychological-treatment sessions.
1.5 L/day of generator-produced hydrogen-rich water, divided into six 250 mL portions, alongside twelve weekly 90-minute group cognitive-behavioral-therapy sessions.
H₂ dissolved in drinking water — H₂ only, not Brown's gas.
The article reports approximately 1.2 ppm dissolved H₂ and oxidation-reduction potential of −550 mV. Water was stored in aluminum bottles and the article states that properties were retained for up to 8 hours.
Normal water from visually similar placebo generators plus the same group cognitive-behavioral treatment.
Outcomes and reported result
Anxiety, depression, perceived stress, gastrointestinal symptoms, SF-36 health domains, pro-inflammatory cytokines and salivary cortisol-awakening response.
The article's main between-group conclusion was negative: adding hydrogen-rich water was not significantly better than placebo water. All six reported cytokine between-group tests were non-significant (p=0.30–0.92). Numerical cytokine reductions and some physical-health/body-pain measures favored the H₂ group, while pooled within-group improvements largely reflected psychological treatment and cannot be attributed to H₂.
The complete open-access article, randomization, water preparation and dose, psychological co-intervention, outcome tables, null between-group result, registry timing, affiliations and conflict statement were checked.
A reported association, difference or mechanism is not automatically a clinical benefit.
Limitations and applicability
Very small women-only trial, two centers, many outcomes, baseline imbalances and a strong cognitive-behavioral co-intervention that prevents isolating most within-group changes. Registration was retrospective. One author was manager of Osmostar Soriano S.L., and the article acknowledged the hydrogen company even though the authors declared no competing interests; this commercial connection is retained explicitly.
Women with panic disorder receiving the reported psychological program; the study did not demonstrate added clinical benefit from hydrogen-rich water.
No single-study GRADE certainty rating is assigned. Read how records and evidence assessments are prepared.
Sources and record status
PMID: 35774917 · DOI: 10.52965/001c.35468
Open-access publisher article and PubMed Central copy.
Complete PubMed Central/publisher article, PubMed metadata and reported trial registration; full-text extraction checked 8 August 2026.
10 August 2026
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