# Health Benefits of Electrolyzed Hydrogen Water: Antioxidant and Anti-Inflammatory Effects in Living Organisms.
> 電解水素水の健康効果：生体における抗酸化・抗炎症作用に関するレビュー


## Abstract

Electrolyzed hydrogen water (EHW) contains dissolved molecular hydrogen, which acts as a potent reducing agent due to its exceptionally small molecular size and neutral charge, enabling high bioavailability across biological membranes. This review examines evidence that EHW exerts antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects across multiple disease models. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) generated during inflammation further amplify inflammatory responses, establishing a feedback loop that drives chronic disease progression. EHW has been shown to interrupt this cycle by reducing inflammatory cytokines and lowering oxidative stress markers. Pain-related outcomes were also examined, including sciatic nerve ligation and inflammatory pain models, where EHW demonstrated analgesic potential. In an inflammatory bowel disease model using TNBS-induced colitis, EHW reduced abdominal pain and attenuated both inflammation and oxidative stress. Additionally, hydrogen selectively neutralizes harmful radicals, and EHW intake may help restore stress-induced hormonal imbalances, with implications for chronic stress-related conditions.

### Mechanism

Molecular hydrogen selectively scavenges harmful reactive oxygen species such as hydroxyl radicals, suppresses inflammatory cytokine production, and thereby interrupts the mutual amplification loop between ROS generation and inflammatory signaling that underlies chronic disease progression.

## Bibliographic

- **Authors**: Hu D, Kabayama S, Watanabe Y, Cui Y
- **Journal**: Antioxidants (Basel)
- **Year**: 2024 (2024-03-02)
- **PMID**: [38539846](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38539846/)
- **DOI**: [10.3390/antiox13030313](https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox13030313)
- **PMC**: [PMC10967432](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10967432/)
- **Study type**: review
- **Delivery route**: hydrogen-rich water
- **Effect reported**: not assessed

## 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 38539846. https://h2-papers.org/en/papers/38539846
> **Source**: PubMed PMID [38539846](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38539846/)