Hydrogen water as a treatment for myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome: a pilot randomized trial (Friedberg et Choi, 2022)

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Abstract

Background: Given the absence of effective medical treatments for myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS), the testing of a new intervention that may ameliorate potentially pathologic levels of oxidative stress, sympathetic arousal, and inflammation may yield symptomatic improvements.

Objective: To explore in a pilot study, the possible beneficial effect of molecular hydrogen (H2) for the symptoms and functional limitations of ME/CFS.

Methods: Twenty-three subjects were randomized to H2 or active placebo which involved drinking up to five glasses daily of hydrogen-enriched water or placebo water for 28 days. Assessments included: (i) self-report fatigue, physical function, and stress; (ii) salivary C-Reactive Protein (inflammation), Uric Acid (antioxidant status), and Alpha-Amylase (sympathetic function); and (iii) heart rate variability (parasympathetic activity). Data were analysed with Wilcoxon rank-sum tests.

Results: Completion rate for the primary outcome measure of fatigue severity was 100% for the 11 hydrogen participants and 91.7% (n = 11) for placebo participants. No significant changes were found on self-report or biological variables in the active vs. placebo treatment conditions. A small, but significant reduction in fatigue was found in the placebo condition. Adverse effects led to treatment discontinuation in 27.2% of H2 subjects. All severe- and moderate-intensity effects were found in the active treatment condition. Adverse effects were not significantly associated with any demographic or symptom variable.

Conclusions: Therapeutic molecular hydrogen did not yield improvement on any biological or symptom measure in individuals with ME/CFS. Dosage reduction might benefit any future trial of hydrogen therapy in this illness. Clinical trials# NCT05013606

The study: https://cogentoa.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/21641846.2022.2038519
 

Pyrrhus

Senior Member
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Thanks for posting! :thumbsup:

Main points:
  1. A pilot study [to examine] the possible beneficial effect of molecular hydrogen (H2) for the symptoms and functional limitations of ME/CFS.
  2. Twenty-three subjects were randomized to H2 or active placebo which involved drinking up to five glasses daily of hydrogen-enriched water or placebo water for 28 days.
  3. No significant changes were found on self-report or biological variables in the active vs. placebo treatment conditions. A small, but significant reduction in fatigue was found in the placebo condition.
  4. Therapeutic molecular hydrogen did not yield improvement on any biological or symptom measure in individuals with ME/CFS.
 

SlamDancin

Senior Member
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573
Curious though, the biological markers they list;
salivary C-Reactive Protein (inflammation), Uric Acid (antioxidant status), and Alpha-Amylase (sympathetic function); and (iii) heart rate variability (parasympathetic activity).”

I wonder if these were confirmed to be significantly different from HC and, if so, wouldn’t that be a pretty significant finding?
 

Hip

Senior Member
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18,209
I found hydrogen-rich water is effective for treating the stress sensitivity of ME/CFS. It works quickly too, within an hour or so. If I have a day where I feel more emotionally sensitive to stressors, I will prepare and drink 200 ml of hydrogen-rich water. See this post.


However, I did not find hydrogen-rich water effective for any other ME/CFS symptom.
 

Hip

Senior Member
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18,209
How do you make hydrogen water?

I use the home method described in this post. This will make a litre of 5 ppm hydrogen-rich water (HRW) for about 1 pence.

You can buy electrical HRW makers. These electrical units make HRW with about 1 ppm or so.

You can also buy fizzy tablets which you drop into water to make HRW. Again they will produce about 1 ppm or so.

It's only pressurised systems which can make concentrations higher than 1 ppm, because you need higher pressures if you want to dissolve more H2 into the water.
 
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