Benefits of Hydrogen Water for Hydration

Hydrogen water and hydration: why water quality matters

Did you know that water is to our body what oil is to a car engine? An engine cannot run without oil and, in the same way, the delicate “engines” of our body, the cells and organs, cannot work without water.

Without water, without hydration, the body cannot function: according to MedlinePlus, from the US National Library of Medicine, all cells and organs need water to do their work. If you drink too little water, your body fluids become unbalanced and dehydration can set in. Hence the enormous importance of good hydration.

The quality of your hydration also depends on the quality of the water you drink. Disinfecting water with chlorine is a public health achievement, but it produces by-products, some of which have shown toxic effects in animal studies, so the aim is to strike a balance between disinfecting water and reducing these by-products. This is one of the reasons why the benefits of filtered water are increasingly valued.

A second distinguishing factor is the presence of biologically relevant compounds. Hydrogen water combines both features: it is filtered and purified, and it is enriched with molecular hydrogen, a gas whose health potential has been the subject of growing research.

What is hydrogen water?

Hydrogen water is water enriched with gaseous molecular hydrogen (H₂). This gas dissolves in water in small amounts (up to about 1.6 mg per litre at atmospheric pressure, according to a review by Ohta, 2011) and is gradually lost over time.

How is hydrogen water made?

There are several ways of obtaining hydrogen water. One of them relies on chemical reactions with certain metals and mineral salts.

However, the most practical and safe method for daily use is a hydrogen water generator, also called a hydrogenator. This device uses a type of electrolysis designed for this purpose, which separates H₂ from the water molecule (H₂O). Before hydrogenation, the water is filtered and purified.

If you are looking for a solution for your home, you can explore Filtrarte’s hydrogen water devices, such as the Zenith.

What is the difference between hydrogen water and mineral water?

Because it is produced from filtered water, hydrogen water may have a lower content of chemical residues, including chlorine disinfection by-products, whose presence in water is best kept to a minimum.

Compared with mineral waters, the biggest difference is the presence of molecular hydrogen, whose health properties have been studied by the scientific community. The results are considered promising, but the authors of the most recent reviews stress the need for more rigorous studies in humans. You can read more on this topic in our article on the health benefits of molecular hydrogen.

How does hydrogen water work in the body?

To date, there is no solid evidence that hydrogen water hydrates better than ordinary water: hydration comes first and foremost from the water itself. Scientific interest lies in the dissolved molecular hydrogen and the cellular processes it may influence.

H₂ is a very small molecule that diffuses rapidly across cell membranes, according to the study by Ohsawa and colleagues. In animal studies, after hydrogen-rich water was ingested, molecular hydrogen was detected in the blood and accumulated in the liver (Ohta, 2011).

Selective antioxidant and anti-inflammatory action

The benefits of hydrogen water have attracted considerable scientific interest because of the cell-regulating capacities attributed to H₂. Although it is a relatively recent field of research, a bibliometric analysis identified more than 1,100 publications on the medical use of molecular hydrogen between 2007 and mid-2021.

Its antioxidant action is the most studied, since an excess of free radicals (oxidative stress) is associated with many chronic diseases and with ageing.

This antioxidant action has a particular feature: in the study by Ohsawa and colleagues (2007), carried out in cultured cells and in an animal model, H₂ selectively reduced the hydroxyl radical, the most cytotoxic reactive oxygen species, without reacting with others that have physiological roles.

Anti-inflammatory potential is another property of H₂ that research has been exploring: in addition to the antioxidant effect, anti-inflammatory and anti-allergic effects have been described.

Other processes in which molecular hydrogen may play a role

Scientific reviews describe H₂ as potentially influencing processes such as:

• the regulation of gene expression;
• energy metabolism in the mitochondria, the “power stations” of the cells;
• the immune response and programmed cell death;
• processes associated with ageing, mainly in experimental studies;
• mood and anxiety, in a small trial in healthy adults.

The specifics of each of these actions are complex and fall outside the scope of this article. It is worth knowing that many of these effects have been described in animal models and laboratory studies, and that not all of them have been confirmed in humans.

Put simply, molecular hydrogen is described in the scientific literature as a molecule that regulates the expression of various genes and the phosphorylation of proteins, although the mechanisms behind these effects are still unclear.

Possible benefits of hydrogen water for energy and fatigue

In cells cultured in the laboratory, molecular hydrogen protected the mitochondria from the hydroxyl radical and prevented a fall in ATP levels, the cells’ energy “batteries” (Ohta, 2011). These laboratory results do not, on their own, show that hydrogen water increases everyday energy.

In humans, the evidence is more modest: a systematic review with meta-analysis of 19 studies in healthy adults concluded that H₂ supplementation may reduce the feeling of fatigue during exercise, but does not improve aerobic capacity. This is one of the possible benefits of hydrogen water that is still being studied.

Hydration in older people

Drinking enough water matters at every age, but it deserves extra attention in older people.

According to MedlinePlus, older adults are more likely to become dehydrated, because some people lose their sense of thirst as they age and end up not drinking enough fluids. It is therefore worth drinking water regularly, even when you are not thirsty.

Hydrogen water and skin health

The skin also reflects your state of hydration: dry skin is one of the symptoms of dehydration listed by MedlinePlus. The specific effects of hydrogen water on the skin, however, have been little studied in humans, so no proven anti-ageing effect can be attributed to it.

Staying well hydrated is especially important in summer: people who exercise or work outdoors in hot weather are more likely to become dehydrated. Find out more about the importance of hydration in summer.

Hydrogen water for active people and athletes: what the research says

In active people, a small clinical trial with 26 healthy adults, who drank 600 ml of hydrogen-rich water a day for four weeks, observed improvements in mood and anxiety compared with placebo water. It is, however, a small study.

In sport, a systematic review with meta-analysis of 27 publications, involving 597 participants, suggests that H₂ supplementation in healthy adults may:

• reduce perceived exertion during exercise;
• help lower blood lactate during exercise;
• slightly improve lower-limb explosive power.

On the other hand, no improvements were seen in aerobic or anaerobic endurance or in muscle strength, and the authors stress the need for more rigorous studies. If you play sport regularly, you can read more on this topic in our article on the benefits of hydrogen water in sport.

How to include hydrogen water in your routine

Hydrogen water is a light, pleasant water that is easy to fit into your daily life. There is no daily amount of hydrogen water set by health authorities; in the trial by Mizuno and colleagues, for example, participants drank 600 ml a day.

What matters most is getting an adequate total water intake, which the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) sets at 2 litres a day for adult women and 2.5 litres for adult men, counting the water from all drinks and from food. These values apply to moderate ambient temperatures and moderate physical activity, and are the same for older people.

As H₂ is lost over time, it is best to drink it shortly after it is made, for example:

• when you wake up;
• before physical exercise;
• throughout the day.

How should you store hydrogen water?

Drunk from a glass straight from the hydrogenator, hydrogen water retains its highest concentration of H₂. After that, the gas is gradually lost: according to Ohta (2011), H₂ tends to escape from water over time, especially once the container has been opened.

For this reason, it is best to drink it shortly after making it. To carry water with you throughout the working day, at school or during sport, you can use a well-filled, tightly closed bottle, bearing in mind that the hydrogen content will keep decreasing.

Cooking with it has the advantage of using purified water, but the H₂ is lost because it is volatile.

Does hydrogen water cure diseases?

No. It is important to avoid the myth that hydrogen water cures diseases. Studies suggest antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects, observed mainly in laboratory and animal models, but research in humans is still limited and ongoing.

It should go hand in hand with a balanced diet and physical exercise, and it does not replace medical treatment. If you have a chronic illness, are pregnant or take medication regularly, talk to your doctor before making significant changes to your routine.

Benefits of hydrogen water: the key points

In short, research suggests that molecular hydrogen:

• has a selective antioxidant action, observed in cells and in animal models;
• shows anti-inflammatory and gene-regulating potential;
• may reduce the feeling of fatigue during exercise, according to meta-analyses in healthy adults;
• does not appear to improve aerobic capacity or muscle strength;
• is still being studied for possible therapeutic applications.

The possible benefits of hydrogen water explain the growing interest of the scientific community, which is studying molecular hydrogen as an approach with therapeutic potential in various diseases, although it has no established clinical use yet.

Drinking hydrogen water is a simple way to look after your hydration every day, taking a bottle of water with you to work, to sports training or to school.

In published studies, molecular hydrogen has shown no toxicity, even at high concentrations, and few adverse effects have been described (Ohta, 2011). Will you make hydrogen water part of your routine?

Discover Filtrarte’s hydrogen water solutions and choose the one that best suits your home.

Frequently asked questions about hydrogen water

Is hydrogen water safe to drink every day?

Published studies describe molecular hydrogen as well tolerated, with no toxicity even at high concentrations. Even so, hydrogen water does not replace medical supervision and, if you have any illness, you should talk to your doctor.

How long does hydrogen stay in water?

H₂ is gradually lost: it tends to escape from the water over time, especially once the container has been opened, so it is best to keep the container full and tightly closed. So ideally you should drink it shortly after making it.

What is the best time to drink hydrogen water?

As hydrogen is lost over time, the most important thing is to drink it shortly after it is made, for example when you wake up, before physical exercise or throughout the day. Your total water intake should be adjusted to your physical activity and the ambient temperature.

Can you cook with hydrogen water?

Yes, and it has the advantage of being purified water. However, molecular hydrogen is volatile and is lost during cooking, so its possible benefits depend mainly on drinking it directly.

References

• Ohta, S. (2011). Recent progress toward hydrogen medicine: potential of molecular hydrogen for preventive and therapeutic applications. Current Pharmaceutical Design, 17(22), 2241-2252. doi: 10.2174/138161211797052664

• Huang, L. (2016). Molecular hydrogen: a therapeutic antioxidant and beyond. Medical gas research, 6(4), 219-222. doi: 10.4103/2045-9912.196904

• Ohsawa, I., Ishikawa, M., Takahashi, K., Watanabe, M., Nishimaki, K., Yamagata, K., … & Ohta, S. (2007). Hydrogen acts as a therapeutic antioxidant by selectively reducing cytotoxic oxygen radicals. Nature medicine, 13(6), 688-694. doi: 10.1038/nm1577

• Yang, M., Dong, Y., He, Q., Zhu, P., Zhuang, Q., Shen, J., … & Zhao, M. (2020). Hydrogen: a novel option in human disease treatment. Oxidative Medicine and Cellular Longevity, 2020, 8384742. doi: 10.1155/2020/8384742

• Ostojic, S. M. (2015). Molecular hydrogen in sports medicine: new therapeutic perspectives. International journal of sports medicine, 36(4), 273-279. doi: 10.1055/s-0034-1395509

• Mizuno, K., Sasaki, A. T., Ebisu, K., Tajima, K., Kajimoto, O., Nojima, J., … & Watanabe, Y. (2017). Hydrogen-rich water for improvements of mood, anxiety, and autonomic nerve function in daily life. Medical gas research, 7(4), 247-255. doi: 10.4103/2045-9912.222448

• Li H, Ma HY, Hua WL, Zhang YX, Zhang L, Xing PF, Yang PF, Liu JM. Trend of research on the medical use of molecular hydrogen: a bibliometric analysis. Med Gas Res. 2023 Oct-Dec;13(4):212-218. doi: 10.4103/2045-9912.344980

• Zhou K, Liu M, Wang Y, Liu H, Manor B, Bao D, Zhang L, Zhou J. Effects of molecular hydrogen supplementation on fatigue and aerobic capacity in healthy adults: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Frontiers in Nutrition. 2023;10:1094767. doi: 10.3389/fnut.2023.1094767

• Zhou K, Shang Z, Yuan C, Guo Z, Wang Y, Bao D, Zhou J. Can molecular hydrogen supplementation enhance physical performance in healthy adults? A systematic review and meta-analysis. Frontiers in Nutrition. 2024;11:1387657. doi: 10.3389/fnut.2024.1387657

• EFSA Panel on Dietetic Products, Nutrition, and Allergies (NDA). Scientific Opinion on Dietary Reference Values for water. EFSA Journal. 2010;8(3):1459. doi: 10.2903/j.efsa.2010.1459. https://www.efsa.europa.eu/en/efsajournal/pub/1459

• Schoeny, R. (2010). Disinfection by-products: a question of balance. Environmental Health Perspectives, 118(11), A466-A467. doi: 10.1289/ehp.1003053

• MedlinePlus (U.S. National Library of Medicine). Dehydration. accessed September 2026. https://medlineplus.gov/dehydration.html

• MedlinePlus (U.S. National Library of Medicine). Water in diet. accessed September 2026. https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/002471.htm

By the Filtrarte Expert Team
The information in this article is not intended to recommend any treatment for symptoms or diseases. Consult your doctor for specialist advice.