Comparing different doses of hydrogen enriched water in a pilot randomized treatment trial in chronic fatigue syndrome, 2026, Fred Friedberg et al

[Mij]

Abstract

Background:
Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) is a chronic disabling illness without restorative treatments. The aim of this pilot treatment study was to explore the potential benefit of two different dosing schedules for hydrogen enriched water (HRW) for the symptoms and functional limitations of chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS).

Methods:
A 16-week, two-arm randomized single blind design was used. 50 subjects received either (a) a standard dose of HRW (2–3 daily glasses of HRW) for all 16 weeks or (b) a standard dose for 8 weeks followed by a higher dose of HRW (4–5 daily glasses of HRW) for the remaining 8 weeks. Assessments included: self-report fatigue, physical function and stress, and salivary uric acid as a measure of oxidative stress. All participant activities were completed in their homes. Data were analyzed with linear mixed-effects models for repeated measures.

Results:
The standard dose condition showed significant improvements in fatigue (p= .002), physical function (p= .045), depression (p=.049), and anxiety (p=.002). The low-to-high dose condition yielded significant improvements in fatigue (p=.029) and physical function (p=.002). No significant outcome differences were observed between the two dosing conditions. No significant changes in salivary uric acid were found in either treatment group.

Conclusion:
The intervention of HRW did not yield differential levels of improvement across different dosing conditions; however, improvement in fatigue
and physical function in the standard dose condition suggest that the moderate dosing may be sufficient to generate clinically relevant benefits for debilitated patients with ME/CFS.
Published STUDY

 

[Mij]

Another study posted by Friedberg here and here

 

[Jonathan Edwards]

I hope everyone can see that this is meaningless. The significant improvement can be attributed to time. Meaningful trials are not done like this.

 

[Utsikt]

Funding​

Natural Wellness Now Health Products provided financial support for the conduct of this research. The sponsor provided suggestions on the design of this pilot trial. The sponsor had no involvement with data collection, analysis, or interpretation of data and no involvement in writing the report or submitting the article for publication.

 

[Mij]

I don't want to create more work for the moderators so I'm posting this here. Might be relevant to OI or orthostatic stress

Highlights:
-Hydrogen rich water increased high-frequency, low-frequency, and R-R interval coefficient of variation heart rate variability at rest.

-Hydrogen rich water maintained increasing low frequency, and the Coefficient of Variation of R-R interval heart rate variability during the initial phase of orthostatic stress.

-Hydrogen-rich water had no effect on cycling exercises performed at 115% of the anaerobic threshold.

Abstract
Hydrogen-rich water has various health benefits, such as substantially reducing lactate accumulation during high-intensity exercise. However, little is known about the effects of hydrogen-rich water on physiological responses during physical activity compared to those at rest. Therefore, we investigated the short-term effects of hydrogen-rich water on autonomic nervous system activity under static and orthostatic conditions and physiological responses during exercise.

This was a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled crossover study (UMIN000050872).

Fifty healthy adults with different fitness levels were recruited. The intervention involved the intake of hydrogen-rich water. Participants were randomly assigned (1:1) into two groups: one was administered hydrogen-rich water first, and the other was administered placebo water first.

Participants consumed 290 mL of hydrogen-rich water or placebo water three times: the day before, 90 min before, and immediately before the two tests: heart rate variability test under static and orthostatic conditions, followed by a 30 min constant cycling test at 115% of the anaerobic threshold. Among all recruited participants, three individuals were excluded because of scheduling conflicts or incomplete measurement data, resulting in 47 participants (34 women, mean age 46.7 ± 10.3 years, peak VO2 22.5 ± 4.0 mL/kg/min).

Hydrogen-rich water significantly increased the high-frequency, low-frequency, and coefficient of variation of the R-R interval at rest (p < 0.05). Additionally, hydrogen-rich water maintained a high coefficient of variation in the R-R interval and low frequency even in the early phase of orthostatic stress.

In contrast, hydrogen-rich water had no significant effect on heart rate, blood lactate, or VO2 during exercise compared to placebo water.

In conclusion, hydrogen-rich water enhanced autonomic function during orthostatic stress and at rest. This favorable effect was observed after a few intakes of hydrogen-rich water.
STUDY

 

[Mij]

Conclusions:
HRW significantly increased HF, LF, and CVRR at rest and maintained high CVRR and LF even in the early phase of orthostatic stress. In contrast, no significant effects of HRW were observed on physiological indices, such as HR, blood lactate, and VO2 during cycling. These findings suggest that HRW leads to an appropriate autonomic nervous system activity response, even at a low intake, during orthostatic stress and at rest in non-athletes.

 

[InitialConditions]

There are some memes — in the old sense of the word — in the ME/CFS world that never seem to die. Hydrogen water is one of those.