Oxidative stress is recognized widely as being associated with various disorders including
diabetes, hypertension, and atherosclerosis. It is well established that hydrogen has a reducing action.
We therefore investigated the effects of hydrogen-rich water intake on lipid and glucose metabolism
in patients with either type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) or impaired glucose tolerance (IGT). We
performed a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study in 30 patients with
T2DM controlled by diet and exercise therapy and 6 patients with IGT. The patients consumed either
900 mL/d of hydrogen-rich pure water or 900 mL of placebo pure water for 8 weeks, with a 12-week
washout period. Several biomarkers of oxidative stress, insulin resistance, and glucose metabolism,
assessed by an oral glucose tolerance test, were evaluated at baseline and at 8 weeks. Intake of
hydrogen-rich water was associated with significant decreases in the levels of modified low-density
lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol (ie, modifications that increase the net negative charge of LDL), small
dense LDL, and urinary 8-isoprostanes by 15.5% (P b .01), 5.7% (P b .05), and 6.6% (P b .05),
respectively. Hydrogen-rich water intake was also associated with a trend of decreased serum
concentrations of oxidized LDL and free fatty acids, and increased plasma levels of adiponectin and
extracellular-superoxide dismutase. In 4 of 6 patients with IGT, intake of hydrogen-rich water
normalized the oral glucose tolerance test. In conclusion, these results suggest that supplementation
with hydrogen-rich water may have a beneficial role in prevention of T2DM and insulin resistance.
© 2008 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
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