# Hydrogen-rich water improves endurance by reducing skeletal muscle oxidative stress and inflammatory responses.
> 水素水摂取による骨格筋の酸化ストレス・炎症抑制と持久力向上に関する動物実験研究


## Abstract

This animal study examined the effects of hydrogen-rich water (HRW) on exercise capacity and skeletal muscle physiology in male C57BL/6J mice aged 8 weeks. Animals received either purified water or HRW for 1, 2, 4, or 6 weeks, after which treadmill running distance and skeletal muscle markers of oxidative stress, inflammation, and muscle damage were measured at each time point. Mice consuming HRW for 4 or more weeks demonstrated significantly greater running distances and reduced indices of muscle fatigue, oxidative stress, inflammation, and muscle damage compared with controls. Notably, antioxidant gene expression did not increase despite the observed reduction in oxidative stress, raising the possibility that HRW acts through direct reactive oxygen species scavenging rather than upregulation of endogenous antioxidant pathways. These findings indicate that HRW consumption may support exercise initiation and adherence in sedentary individuals by alleviating skeletal muscle oxidative and inflammatory burden.

### Mechanism

HRW appears to reduce skeletal muscle oxidative stress and inflammation by directly scavenging or suppressing reactive oxygen species, independent of antioxidant gene upregulation, thereby improving exercise endurance.

## Bibliographic

- **Authors**: Mizuno E, Sato T, Okada K, Miura I, Shoda J, Saito M, et al.
- **Journal**: Front Nutr
- **Year**: 2026
- **PMID**: [41641160](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41641160/)
- **DOI**: [10.3389/fnut.2026.1722091](https://doi.org/10.3389/fnut.2026.1722091)
- **PMC**: [PMC12864122](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12864122/)
- **Study type**: animal study
- **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 41641160. https://h2-papers.org/en/papers/41641160
> **Source**: PubMed PMID [41641160](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41641160/)