Hydrogen-rich water alleviates inflammation and fatigue in COVID-19: A pilot study
Milovancev A, Avakumovic J, Drid P, Todorovic N, Stajer V, Ostojic SM. · European Journal of Inflammation. 2022;20.
Study at a glance
Human
Non-hospitalized adults with laboratory-confirmed mild-to-moderate COVID-19 and no reported comorbidities.
Participants drank 1.5 L/day of super-saturated hydrogen-rich water in three servings for 14 days, starting soon after a positive COVID-19 test. · 8 ppm dissolved H₂. Water was produced by the reaction of magnesium with water; the placebo was matched for total magnesium and effervescent appearance.
Planned 14 days; mean observed intervention duration 13.4±2.3 days. Mean delay from positive test to treatment was 3.1±1.6 days.
Treatment-by-time analyses were null for cough, dyspnea, headache, chest pain and oxygen saturation; fatigue favored hydrogen-rich water (p=0.01). IL-6 changed by -5.8% versus +16.2% in controls (p=0.04), while ferritin, TNF-α, fibrinogen and D-dimer did not differ. One participant in each arm was hospitalized.
Very small pilot with short follow-up, multiple outcomes, gender imbalance and no elderly participants. The article alternates between 'case series' and a randomized placebo-controlled description. Most symptoms and oxygen saturation were null; magnesium-derived water remains a possible confound despite a magnesium-matched placebo.
What kind of evidence is this?
Human
Double-blind randomized placebo-controlled pilot study reported as a research letter
Respiratory 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
Non-hospitalized adults with laboratory-confirmed mild-to-moderate COVID-19 and no reported comorbidities.
24 participants; mean age 46.7±10.6 years, including 15 women. The letter does not print consolidated arm totals, so none is inferred.
Planned 14 days; mean observed intervention duration 13.4±2.3 days. Mean delay from positive test to treatment was 3.1±1.6 days.
Participants drank 1.5 L/day of super-saturated hydrogen-rich water in three servings for 14 days, starting soon after a positive COVID-19 test.
H₂ dissolved in drinking water — H₂ only, not Brown's gas.
8 ppm dissolved H₂. Water was produced by the reaction of magnesium with water; the placebo was matched for total magnesium and effervescent appearance.
Placebo drink matched for total magnesium and effervescence; participants and research personnel were reported blinded.
Outcomes and reported result
Daily cough, dyspnea, headache, chest pain, fatigue and oxygen saturation; baseline and day-14 coagulation and inflammatory biomarkers; hospitalization and adverse effects.
Treatment-by-time analyses were null for cough, dyspnea, headache, chest pain and oxygen saturation; fatigue favored hydrogen-rich water (p=0.01). IL-6 changed by -5.8% versus +16.2% in controls (p=0.04), while ferritin, TNF-α, fibrinogen and D-dimer did not differ. One participant in each arm was hospitalized.
The complete free SAGE article was checked for design, dose, primary and secondary outcomes, null findings, adverse effects, funding and conflicts.
A reported association, difference or mechanism is not automatically a clinical benefit.
Limitations and applicability
Very small pilot with short follow-up, multiple outcomes, gender imbalance and no elderly participants. The article alternates between 'case series' and a randomized placebo-controlled description. Most symptoms and oxygen saturation were null; magnesium-derived water remains a possible confound despite a magnesium-matched placebo.
Adults with mild-to-moderate acute COVID-19 matching this small outpatient sample; not evidence for prevention, severe disease or long COVID.
No single-study GRADE certainty rating is assigned. Read how records and evidence assessments are prepared.
Sources and record status
DOI: 10.1177/1721727X221094197 · DOI: 10.1177/1721727X221094197
Open-access full article on SAGE Journals and PubMed Central.
SAGE publisher full article and PubMed Central record; full-text extraction checked 8 August 2026.
10 August 2026
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