# Does Hydrogen-Rich Water Reduce Oxidative Stress in Patients with Chronic Mountain Sickness? A Randomized, Blinded, Controlled Trial.
> 慢性高山病患者における水素水の酸化ストレスへの影響：無作為化盲検対照試験


## Abstract

A randomized, blinded, placebo-controlled trial conducted at a Tibetan hospital in Nagqu, China, enrolled 60 adults with untreated chronic mountain sickness (CMS) and assigned them 1:1 to receive 990 ml/day of hydrogen-rich water (HRW) or placebo for 8 weeks. The primary endpoints were changes in six oxidative stress biomarkers including malondialdehyde (MDA), total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC), catalase, glutathione, superoxide dismutase, and 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine. At week 8, HRW was associated with significantly greater increases in MDA (+2.11; 95% CI: 1.13–3.09) and T-AOC (+2.86; 95% CI: 0.09–5.64) compared with placebo. Among participants with BMI ≥24, the MDA elevation was more pronounced. Adverse events were reported in 50% of the HRW group versus 37% of the placebo group, with dizziness being the most frequent. Overall, HRW exhibited both pro-oxidative and antioxidative properties in CMS patients, and did not demonstrate a reduction in oxidative damage; elevated oxidative risk was noted in higher-BMI individuals.

### Mechanism

HRW exhibited dual effects in CMS patients: elevating MDA (a lipid peroxidation marker, suggesting pro-oxidative activity) while also increasing T-AOC (antioxidative capacity). In individuals with BMI ≥24, the pro-oxidative signal was amplified, indicating a potential interaction between body composition and hydrogen's redox modulation.

## Bibliographic

- **Authors**: Zhang F, Zhong Y, Li Q, Hao DP, Shi Z, Zhu SL, et al.
- **Journal**: High Alt Med Biol
- **Year**: 2025 (2025-12-04)
- **PMID**: [41371770](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41371770/)
- **DOI**: [10.1177/15578682251401137](https://doi.org/10.1177/15578682251401137)
- **Study type**: human randomized controlled trial
- **Delivery route**: hydrogen-rich water
- **Effect reported**: mixed

## 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 41371770. https://h2-papers.org/en/papers/41371770
> **Source**: PubMed PMID [41371770](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41371770/)