FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Frequently asked questions
What is molecular hydrogen?
- Molecular hydrogen is the smallest element and lightest molecule.
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Molecular hydrogen can easily diffuse into the subcellular compartments and scavenge cytotoxic oxygen radicals, thus protecting the DNA, RNA and proteins from oxidative stress. -
Molecular hydrogen also triggers the activation or upregulation of additional antioxidant enzymes (e.g. glutathione, superoxide dismutase, catalase, etc.) and/or cytoprotective proteins of the body. -
Molecular hydrogen may be a novel-signaling molecule that can alter cell signaling, cell metabolism and gene expression. This gives anti-inflammatory, anti-diabetic, anti-allergic, anti-cancer, anti-dementia, anti-athrosclerotic and anti-apoptotic (or anti-cell death) effects. -
Molecular hydrogen as a selective antioxidant only scavenges the most cytotoxic oxygen radicals. -
Molecular hydrogen leaves no waste product after neutralizing a free radical. -
Molecular hydrogen is the smallest molecule, and can easily enter the cells. -
Molecular hydrogen has no known toxic effects, even at high intakes. -
Molecular hydrogen is easily consumed with no additional calories. -
Hydrogen gas has been shown to have a therapeutic effect on over 170 human diseases.
What is hydrogen water good for?
What are the side effects of hydrogen water?
Hydrogen water seems to have no observed negative side effects, but there are a few unique circumstances in which to be cautious. Hydrogen water does seem to have an effect on the “need” for stimulants in the body, such as caffeine or ADHD medication. If taking ADHD medication (or any medication whatsoever for that matter), we recommend consulting your doctor before beginning any molecular hydrogen regimen.
Is hydrogen water safe?
How much hydrogen water should you drink a day?
That is the same question scientists are asking and is still under investigation. But, the human studies generally provide about 1-3 mg/L of dissolved H2, and these concentrations show significant health benefits. So, if your water has a concentration of 1 mg/L (equivalent to 1 ppm, parts per million), then two liters will give you 2 mg of H2. Although the effective concentration for some people and some diseases may be lower and/or higher, these doses are simply what have been seen to exert benefits.
Is hydrogen water a gimmick?
While hydrogen water has received celebrity hype along with skeptical articles from the mainstream media, it is far from a gimmick. In fact, over 1,000 peer-reviewed studies have been conducted on the efficacy of molecular hydrogen.
Is hydrogen an antioxidant?
While it was originally thought that hydrogen was, in and of itself, an antioxidant, that seems to be inaccurate. In fact, what the original 2007 study that set off all of the excitement about hydrogen actually said, Hydrogen ACTS as a selective antioxidant. While more studies need to be done, it seems that molecular hydrogen’s potential lies in its cell-signaling and cell-modulating properties.
Isn’t there already hydrogen in water?
Correct! High-quality H20 of course. But those 2 hydrogen atoms are bonded to an oxygen atom, and the molecules do not separate on their own. Hydrogen gas, or molecular hydrogen, is simply a “free” molecule of 2 hydrogen atoms bonded to each other (no oxygen here). This gas, essentially infused into the water, is what has the amazing therapeutic potential. In a sense, the water is simply acting as a “delivery mechanism” to get hydrogen gas into the body.
Is molecular hydrogen the same as hydrogen peroxide?
While popular in some circles for claimed therapeutic benefits for specific ailments, food grade hydrogen peroxide [H2O2] is in no way similar to dissolved molecular hydrogen [H2] other than they both contain the word ‘hydrogen’. Hydrogen peroxide is a strong oxidizer and is used as a bleaching agent and disinfectant. [H2] is a reducing agent/antioxidant.
Why is H2 infused water better than Alkaline Water?
My alkaline water has a high negative ORP… which means it has the same benefits as hydrogen water, right?
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Taken literally, a “microcluster” is almost the same size as the cell itself, so how could that ever actually get into the cell? Micro is pretty big when we are talking about things about a thousand times smaller. -
The colligative properties of the water would make it unfit for cooking, cleaning, or drinking because it would behave radically different. -
Stable microclusters would prevent normal enzyme catalysis. Our bodies are used to ‘normal’ water, and making even a small change like having a neutron in the hydrogen atoms (2H2O or D2O) actually would inhibit enzyme function. Even if it’s just the tiniest bit different, it ends up being toxic. -
If it can get inside that easily, then it can get outside that easily as well. This would damage the cell membrane and thus cell signaling via the lipid raft and other extracellular receptors. -
If it could somehow penetrate the cell like it’s claimed, then we would have to drink close to 180 liters of water a day, which means we would have to urinate that much also. This is because we would not be able to properly store water, as it would “leak” right through the cells. -
If it could really increase cellular hydration, then it would be extremely carcinogenic, as hyper-cellular hydration is a potent stimulator of cancer initiation and progression. -
If it could get inside the cells that easily, then many enzymes would not work properly as many are dependent upon water molecules (general acid catalysis).
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There are no valid and reputable scientific studies that support it (only ones that refute it). -
No experiences observed with ionized water necessitate the need for a microclustering explanation. Indeed, it can all be explained by known properties: e.g. minerals, H2 gas, alkaline pH, etc. -
Obviously because the “micro-clustering” hasn’t been proven, the idea of better hydration due to micro-clustering also has not been proven. -
Even if you could somehow create stable microclusters, it is more likely that they would have a negative impact on health than a positive one.
Are there any benefits of molecular hydrogen and skin?
How do you measure the concentration of molecular hydrogen in water?
The concentration of hydrogen gas (H2) is often reported in molarity (moles/liter (M) or millimoles/L mM), parts per million (ppm), parts per billion (ppb) or milligrams per liter (mg/L). In dilute concentrations, 1 ppm is about the same as 1 mg/L and they are often used interchangeably. The molar mass of molecular hydrogen is about 2 mg/millimole and so 1 mg is about the same as 0.5 moles so 1 ppm≈1 mg/L ≈0.5 mM. Concentration of 1.6 mg/L (1.6 ppm or 0.8 mM) is considered the concentration at “saturation” because it is what the concentration would be if only hydrogen gas were present with a pressure equal to the pressure at sea level, which is 760 mm-mercury (760 torr, 101.325 kPa, 1.01325 barr, or 14.69595 psi,) also equal to one atmosphere (atm).
Does more hydrogen equal more benefits?
That seems to be the case. There is obviously a minimum required amount needed to offer any health benefits, which may vary from person to person. Importantly, it appears that you cannot get too much hydrogen, as it doesn’t build up in your system.—you just exhale it out. In many cases there is a clear dose-dependent effect, meaning the more hydrogen the better or greater the effect. There are also many anecdotal reports that suggest that consuming more hydrogen may offer even more benefits. But more research needs to be done in this area.
Won’t any dissolved hydrogen gas immediately escape out of the water?
Are there any double-blind placebo-controlled studies on the efficacy of Hydrogen?
Effects of molecular hydrogen assessed by an animal model and a randomized clinical study on mild cognitive impairment
Hydrogen-rich water affected blood alkalinity in physically active men
Efficacy and safety of hydrogen inhalation on Bronchiectasis: A randomized, multi-center, double-blind study (HYBRID)
Molecular hydrogen affects body composition, metabolic profiles, and mitochondrial function in middle-aged overweight women
Pilot study: Effects of drinking hydrogen-rich water on muscle fatigue caused by acute exercise in elite athletes
Supplementation of hydrogen-rich water improves lipid and glucose metabolism in patients with type 2 diabetes or impaired glucose tolerance
Pilot study of H2 therapy in Parkinson's disease: A randomized double‐blind placebo‐controlled trial
A randomized double-blind multi-center trial of hydrogen water for Parkinson’s disease: protocol and baseline characteristics
Therapeutic efficacy of infused molecular hydrogen in saline on rheumatoid arthritis: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled pilot study
Open-label trial and randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover trial of hydrogen-enriched water for mitochondrial and inflammatory myopathies
Hydrogen activates ATP-binding cassette transporter A1-dependent efflux ex vivo and improves high-density lipoprotein function in patients with hypercholesterolemia: A double-blinded, randomised and placebo-controlled trial
Effects of intravenous infusion of hydrogen-rich fluid combined with intra-cisternal infusion of magnesium sulfate in severe aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial