Hydrogen-rich bath with nano-sized bubbles improves antioxidant capacity based on oxygen radical absorbing and inflammation levels in human serum.

Abstract

Using a hydrogen-rich bath device generating nano-sized bubbles (diameter 110±10 nm) with dissolved hydrogen concentrations of 338–682 μg/L, this study examined changes in serum oxygen radical absorption capacity (ORAC) and C-reactive protein (CRP) in healthy volunteers and patients with inflammatory or connective tissue diseases. In healthy subjects, a 10-minute hydrogen-water bath elevated ORAC to 110.9±9.2% at 120 minutes post-bathing, while CRP declined to 70.2±12.1%, contrasting with no significant change after normal water bathing. Among connective tissue disease patients, repeated hydrogen bathing over 9 days to 4 months suppressed CRP to 3–24% of baseline. In six patients with various autoimmune-related conditions, daily hydrogen bathing for 2–25 months reduced mean pre-bath CRP from 5.31 mg/dL to 0.24 mg/dL, within the normal reference range, with visible improvement of inflammatory symptoms in some individuals.

Mechanism

High-density nano-bubble hydrogen is thought to be absorbed transdermally, scavenging reactive oxygen species in the bloodstream, thereby enhancing serum antioxidant capacity and suppressing systemic inflammation as reflected by CRP reduction.