Effects of Hydrogen-Infused Water on Endurance Performance, Body Hydration Biomarkers, and Health-Related Quality of Life in Collegiate Athletes (HYDRO2EAU): A Randomized-Controlled Clinical Trial

Background: Hydrogen-infused water (HIW) has attracted considerable interest over the past two decades due to its potential health benefits. However, its effects on exercise performance and hydration biomarkers remain inadequately explored, particularly in physically active populations such as collegiate athletes. This study aimed to investigate the impact of medium-term HIW supplementation on running performance, hydration biomarkers, and health-related quality of life in collegiate athletes. Methods: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover trial was conducted with twelve collegiate athletes (age: 25.1 ± 3.5 years, six female). Participants consumed 660 mL daily of either HIW (300 µmol/L dihydrogen) or control water (0 µmol/L dihydrogen) for four weeks, with a two-week washout period between interventions. Exercise performance was assessed using an incremental running-to-exhaustion test with a breath-by-breath metabolic system. Hydration biomarkers were measured using multi-frequency bioelectrical impedance analysis, and health-related quality of life was evaluated using the SF-36 survey. The trial was registered with ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT06788015). Results: HIW supplementation significantly increased maximum running velocity and velocity at the anaerobic threshold compared to control water (P < 0.05). Mental and general health scores on the SF-36 survey were significantly higher after HIW supplementation (P = 0.05 and P = 0.03, respectively). A trend toward increased intracellular water and body minerals was observed following HIW consumption (P < 0.20). No adverse effects were reported throughout the study. Conclusion: Our findings indicate that HIW is a safe and potentially effective intervention for enhancing both physical performance and overall well-being in active individuals. Larger studies are needed to confirm these findings and elucidate the underlying mechanisms.