Hydrogen-Rich Water Ameliorates Metabolic Disorder via Modifying Gut Microbiota in Impaired Fasting Glucose Patients: A Randomized Controlled Study.

Abstract

A double-blind, placebo-controlled randomized trial enrolled 73 patients with impaired fasting glucose (IFG), who received either 1000 mL/day of hydrogen-rich water (HRW) or plain water for 8 weeks. HRW produced a significantly greater reduction in fasting blood glucose compared with placebo. Among participants with pre-existing fatty liver, remission was achieved in 62.5% (10/16) of the HRW group versus 31.6% (6/19) in the control group. Fecal 16S RNA sequencing demonstrated that HRW partially corrected gut microbiota dysbiosis. Pearson correlation analysis linking 16S-derived microbial profiles with metabolomics data identified strong associations between altered microbial taxa and nine specific metabolites, suggesting a gut microbiota-mediated mechanism underlying the metabolic improvements observed with HRW.

Mechanism

HRW appears to correct gut microbiota dysbiosis in IFG patients, with altered microbial composition correlating strongly with nine metabolites, suggesting a microbiota-metabolome axis through which H2 exerts its effects on glucose and lipid metabolism.