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Molecular hydrogen

Molecular hydrogen has been studied in 304 papers since 1965: 63 trials and 3 observational studies in people, 95 in animals, 11 in cells, 75 reviews; 11 in the past year. Its furthest trials in people are at phase 3. The newest story, Oct 20, 2026: “Hydrogen delivery reduced testicular deterioration in aged mice”.

InterventionPhase 3

304 papers study it6 more mention it54 findingsUpdated

PubChemChEBI

“there was no significant difference between the H2- and control groups in ADAS-cog score after 1 year”
Effects of Molecular Hydrogen Assessed by an Animal Model and a Randomized Clinical Study on Mild Cognitive ImpairmentCurrent Alzheimer research2018doi:10.2174/1567205014666171106145017

2 of its findings point the other way.

C, W, M, H: cells, worms or flies, mice, humans. Dark: independent labs found the same change there. Light: one lab or one study. Outline: nothing yet.

Labs are independent when their papers share no last author and no institution.

Against: findings that point the other way from most findings on the same outcome.

About aging: trials about aging, of every trial that tests the drug for any use.

No results posted: trials that ended over a year ago with no results on ClinicalTrials.gov and no paper reporting them.

Company ties: findings with an author at a company, or from a paper whose competing-interests statement declares ties to one.

  • 8 independent labs in 9 countries
  • 2 findings against
  • 15 trials, none about aging, 5 with no results posted
  • Funders: Japan Society for the Promotion of Science and others
  • 3 of 42 findings with company ties
  • Human trial10
  • Humans1
  • Animals6

What did studies of Molecular hydrogen find?

42

Studies of Molecular hydrogen measured 42 outcomes; the most studied are oxidative stress and ROS signaling (4 studies), inflammation (3) and triglyceride (2).

Oxidative stress and ROS signaling

downin reviews3downin mice1

4 studies

  1. Molecular hydrogen decreases oxidative stress and ROS signaling.

    “Molecular hydrogen (H2) has recently been reported to function as an anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory agent for the treatment of several oxidative stress and aging-related diseases”

    Review

    Redox-Mechanisms of Molecular Hydrogen Promote Healthful Longevity

    Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland)

  2. Molecular hydrogen decreases oxidative stress and ROS signaling.

    “In doing so, H2 suppresses oxidative stress”

    Review

    Molecular Hydrogen as a Novel Protective Agent against Pre-Symptomatic Diseases

    International journal of molecular sciences

  3. Molecular hydrogen decreases oxidative stress and ROS signaling.

    “molecular hydrogen has been widely demonstrated as a selective antioxidant.”

    Reviewin more than 170 disease models and human diseases

    Molecular hydrogen: current knowledge on mechanism in alleviating free radical damage and diseases

    Acta biochimica et biophysica Sinica

  4. Molecular hydrogen decreases oxidative stress and ROS signaling in mice.

    “In mice, drinking H2-water decreased oxidative stress markers and suppressed the decline of memory impairment and neurodegeneration.”

    Animalsin dominant-negative aldehyde dehydrogenase 2 transgenic micewater infused with H2

    Effects of Molecular Hydrogen Assessed by an Animal Model and a Randomized Clinical Study on Mild Cognitive Impairment

    Current Alzheimer research

More on Oxidative stress and ROS signaling

Inflammation

downin reviews3

3 studies

  1. Molecular hydrogen decreases inflammation.

    “Molecular hydrogen (H2) has recently been reported to function as an anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory agent”

    Review

    Redox-Mechanisms of Molecular Hydrogen Promote Healthful Longevity

    Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland)

  2. Molecular hydrogen prevents inflammation.

    “In addition, hydrogen may prevent inflammation and regulate the nutrient-sensing mTOR system, autophagy, apoptosis, and mitochondria, which are all factors related to ageing.”

    Review

    Role of Molecular Hydrogen in Ageing and Ageing-Related Diseases

    Oxidative medicine and cellular longevity

  3. Molecular hydrogen decreases inflammation.

    “We discussed the antioxidative, anti-inflammatory, and anti-apoptosis effects of hydrogen”

    Review

    Molecular hydrogen: current knowledge on mechanism in alleviating free radical damage and diseases

    Acta biochimica et biophysica Sinica

More on Inflammation

Triglyceride

no changein humans1downin humans1

2 studies

  1. Molecular hydrogen has no effect on triglyceride in humans (WMD: − 4.21 mg/dL; 95% CI: − 17.75 to 9.32; P = 0.54).

    “Triglycerides showed no significant change (WMD: − 4.21 mg/dL; 95% CI: − 17.75 to 9.32; P = 0.54)”

    Reviewin adults with overweight or obesity

    The effect of hydrogen-rich water interventions on lipid profiles in adults with overweight or obesity and associated metabolic disorders: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

    Diabetology & metabolic syndrome

  2. Molecular hydrogen decreases triglyceride in humans (21.3 vs. 6.5%; P = 0.04).

    “This was accompanied by a significant drop in serum triglycerides after H2 intervention comparing to placebo (21.3 vs. 6.5%; P = 0.04)”

    Human trial4 weeksfemalesn = 10

    Molecular hydrogen affects body composition, metabolic profiles, and mitochondrial function in middle-aged overweight women

    Irish journal of medical science

More on Triglyceride

LDL cholesterol

downin humans2

2 studies

  1. Molecular hydrogen decreases LDL cholesterol in humans (WMD: − 3.21 mg/dL; 95% CI: − 6.31 to − 0.10; P = 0.043).

    “low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) (WMD: − 3.21 mg/dL; 95% CI: − 6.31 to − 0.10; P = 0.043)”

    Reviewin adults with overweight or obesity

    The effect of hydrogen-rich water interventions on lipid profiles in adults with overweight or obesity and associated metabolic disorders: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

    Diabetology & metabolic syndrome

  2. Molecular hydrogen decreases LDL cholesterol in humans (p ≤ 0.05).

    “along with reductions in total cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol levels at the follow-up (p ≤ 0.05).”

    Human trialfollowing resistance training program12 mg of dihydrogen per serving, two times per daysix weeksn = 27

    The effects of drinking hydrogen-rich water for six weeks on exercise-related biomarkers in exercise-naïve men and women over 50 years following resistance training program: a randomized controlled pilot trial

    Research in sports medicine (Print)

More on LDL cholesterol

Total cholesterol

downin humans2

2 studies

  1. Molecular hydrogen decreases total cholesterol in humans (WMD: − 6.71 mg/dL; 95% CI: − 10.38 to − 3.04; P < 0.001).

    “HRW significantly reduced total cholesterol (TC) (WMD: − 6.71 mg/dL; 95% CI: − 10.38 to − 3.04; P < 0.001)”

    Reviewin adults with overweight or obesity

    The effect of hydrogen-rich water interventions on lipid profiles in adults with overweight or obesity and associated metabolic disorders: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

    Diabetology & metabolic syndrome

  2. Molecular hydrogen decreases total cholesterol in humans (p = 0.02).

    “reduced total cholesterol (p = 0.02) and LDL cholesterol (p = 0.04)”

    Human trial15 mg daily8 weeksn = 36

    The Effects of 8-Week Hydrogen-Rich Water Consumption on Appetite, Body Composition, Sleep Quality, and Circulating Glucagon-like Peptide-1 in Obese Men and Women (HYDRAPPET): A Randomized Controlled Trial

    Medicina (Kaunas, Lithuania)

More on Total cholesterol

Apoptosis

downin humans1downin reviews1

2 studies

  1. Molecular hydrogen decreases apoptosis in humans.

    “Apoptosis of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) was significantly less in the HW group”

    Human trialperipheral blood mononuclear cells1.5 L/d4 weeks

    Hydrogen-rich water reduces inflammatory responses and prevents apoptosis of peripheral blood cells in healthy adults: a randomized, double-blind, controlled trial

    Scientific reports

  2. Molecular hydrogen inhibits apoptosis.

    “We discussed the antioxidative, anti-inflammatory, and anti-apoptosis effects of hydrogen”

    Review

    Molecular hydrogen: current knowledge on mechanism in alleviating free radical damage and diseases

    Acta biochimica et biophysica Sinica

More on Apoptosis

Lifespan

upin mice2

2 studies

  1. Molecular hydrogen extends lifespan in mice.

    “Moreover, the mean lifespan in the H2-water group was longer than that of the control group.”

    Animalsin dominant-negative aldehyde dehydrogenase 2 transgenic micewater infused with H2

    Effects of Molecular Hydrogen Assessed by an Animal Model and a Randomized Clinical Study on Mild Cognitive Impairment

    Current Alzheimer research

  2. Molecular hydrogen extends lifespan in mice.

    “In wild-type mice fed the fatty diet, H2-water improved the level of plasma triglycerides and extended their average of lifespan.”

    Animalswild-type mice fed a fatty dietwater infused with H2

    Molecular hydrogen stimulates the gene expression of transcriptional coactivator PGC-1α to enhance fatty acid metabolism

    NPJ aging and mechanisms of disease

ADAS-cog

downin humans1no changein humans1

1 study

  1. Molecular hydrogen decreases ADAS-cog in humans.

    “carriers of the apolipoprotein E4 (APOE4) genotype in the H2-group were improved significantly on total ADAS-cog score and word recall task score”

    Human trialin APOE4 carriers with MCIwater infused with H2~300 mL per day1 year

    Effects of Molecular Hydrogen Assessed by an Animal Model and a Randomized Clinical Study on Mild Cognitive Impairment

    Current Alzheimer research

  2. Molecular hydrogen has no effect on ADAS-cog in humans.

    “there was no significant difference between the H2- and control groups in ADAS-cog score after 1 year”

    Human trialin MCI subjects overallwater infused with H2~300 mL per day1 yearn = 73

    Effects of Molecular Hydrogen Assessed by an Animal Model and a Randomized Clinical Study on Mild Cognitive Impairment

    Current Alzheimer research

More on ADAS-cog

HDL cholesterol

downin humans1

1 study

  1. Molecular hydrogen decreases HDL cholesterol in humans (WMD: − 1.16 mg/dL; 95% CI: − 1.92 to − 0.40; P = 0.003).

    “A small reduction in high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) was observed (WMD: − 1.16 mg/dL; 95% CI: − 1.92 to − 0.40; P = 0.003)”

    Reviewin adults with overweight or obesity

    The effect of hydrogen-rich water interventions on lipid profiles in adults with overweight or obesity and associated metabolic disorders: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

    Diabetology & metabolic syndrome

More on HDL cholesterol

Glucagon-like peptide-1

upin humans1

1 study

  1. Molecular hydrogen increases glucagon-like peptide-1 in humans (p = 0.05).

    “increased plasma glucagon-like peptide-1 levels (p = 0.05) compared to the control”

    Human trial15 mg daily8 weeksn = 36

    The Effects of 8-Week Hydrogen-Rich Water Consumption on Appetite, Body Composition, Sleep Quality, and Circulating Glucagon-like Peptide-1 in Obese Men and Women (HYDRAPPET): A Randomized Controlled Trial

    Medicina (Kaunas, Lithuania)

More on Glucagon-like peptide-1

All 42

What is Molecular hydrogen linked with?

1

Studies link Molecular hydrogen with 1 measure, most often microbiome composition (1 study).

Microbiome composition

mixedin mice1

1 study

  1. Molecular hydrogen is associated with microbiome composition in mice.

    “HRJ treatment increased Lactinobactor and decreased Akkermansia, Gracilibacter, and Marvinbryantia abundance.”

    Animalsin high-fat diet-loaded SAMP8 micehydrogen-rich jellycecal feces4 wk

    A preliminary therapeutic study of the effects of molecular hydrogen on intestinal dysbiosis and small intestinal injury in high-fat diet-loaded senescence-accelerated mice

    Nutrition (Burbank, Los Angeles County, Calif.)

More on Microbiome composition

Has Molecular hydrogen been tested in people?

0 about aging, of 15

Yes: 63 trials and 3 observational studies in people have been published, and 14 trials are registered.

In trials

All 14

Stopped

  • NCT03971617TerminatedParkinson's disease

    Insufficient enrollment to answer research question

  • NCT01697293TerminatedBreast neoplasm

    criteria for continuing enrollment in Phase 2 portion was not met

Trial sponsors

Funding

1 grant since 2025

Japan Society for the Promotion of ScienceJP¥18.7m

Latest

Nov 2025: 0Dec 2025: 0Jan 2026: 0Feb 2026: 1Mar 2026: 1Apr 2026: 0May 2026: 2Jun 2026: 1Jul 2026: 0Aug 2026: 0Sep 2026: 0Oct 2026: 16 papers in 12 months
Materials Today Bio

Hydrogen delivery reduced testicular deterioration in aged mice

A material injected into the scrotum stuck to tissue around the testes, sustaining local hydrogen delivery and promoting sperm production in aged mice.A material injected into the scrotum stuck to tissue around the testes, sustaining local hydrogen delivery and promoting sperm production in aged mice.

Mouse studyInterventions
Paper

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