# Drinking hydrogen water enhances endurance and relieves psychometric fatigue: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study.
> 水素水摂取が持久力および精神的疲労感に与える影響：無作為化二重盲検プラセボ対照試験


## Abstract

Acute exercise elevates reactive oxygen species in skeletal muscle, contributing to tissue damage and fatigue. This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study investigated whether consuming hydrogen-rich water before exercise influences psychometric fatigue and endurance. In Experiment 1, 99 untrained healthy participants ingested either hydrogen-rich water or placebo 30 minutes before mild cycle ergometer exercise; visual analogue scale scores for fatigue were significantly lower in the hydrogen group, with participants reporting higher baseline fatigue showing greater sensitivity. In Experiment 2, 60 trained participants performed moderate cycle ergometer exercise 10 minutes after drinking hydrogen-rich water; both maximal oxygen consumption and Borg's perceived exertion scale showed significant improvements in the hydrogen group compared with placebo. These results indicate that pre-exercise hydrogen-rich water consumption is associated with reduced fatigue perception and enhanced endurance performance.

### Mechanism

Molecular hydrogen is proposed to scavenge reactive oxygen species either directly or by upregulating antioxidative enzymes, thereby reducing exercise-induced oxidative damage in skeletal muscle and attenuating fatigue.

## Bibliographic

- **Authors**: Mikami T, Tano K, Lee H, Park J, Ohta F, LeBaron TW, et al.
- **Journal**: Can J Physiol Pharmacol
- **Year**: 2019
- **PMID**: [31251888](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31251888/)
- **DOI**: [10.1139/cjpp-2019-0059](https://doi.org/10.1139/cjpp-2019-0059)
- **Study type**: human randomized controlled trial
- **Delivery route**: hydrogen-rich water
- **Effect reported**: positive

## Delivery context

Hydrogen-rich water is a low-risk delivery route, but the achievable systemic hydrogen dose is bounded. For clinical applications, inhalation is the most efficient route; inhalation, however, carries explosion risk, and concentration matters (empirical LFL of 10% applies to inhalation environments; high-concentration devices are documented in the Consumer Affairs Agency accident database and are not recommended).

## Safety notes

Hydrogen-rich water is a low-risk delivery route, but the achievable systemic hydrogen dose is bounded. For clinical applications, inhalation is the most efficient route; inhalation, however, carries explosion risk, and concentration matters (empirical LFL of 10% applies to inhalation environments; high-concentration devices are documented in the Consumer Affairs Agency accident database and are not recommended).

See also:
- [Inhalation concentration and LFL / UFL](https://h2-papers.org/en/safety-notes/inhalation-concentration)
- [Consumer Affairs Agency accident cases](https://h2-papers.org/en/safety-notes/accident-cases)
- [Inhalation safety threshold lineage](https://h2-papers.org/en/safety-notes/lineage)

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> **Cite as**: H2 Papers — PMID 31251888. https://h2-papers.org/en/papers/31251888
> **Source**: PubMed PMID [31251888](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31251888/)