Pilot study: Effects of drinking hydrogen-rich water on muscle fatigue caused by acute exercise in elite athletes

Kosuke Aoki,Shumpei Miyakawa,Takako Adachi,Yasushi Matsui,Atsunori Nakao

doi:10.1186/2045-9912-2-12

Kosuke Aoki, Shumpei Miyakawa + Show 3 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1186/2045-9912-2-12

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Abstract

BackgroundMuscle contraction during short intervals of intense exercise causes oxidative stress, which can play a role in the development of overtraining symptoms, including increased fatigue, resulting in muscle microinjury or inflammation. Recently it has been said that hydrogen can function as antioxidant, so we investigated the effect of hydrogen-rich water (HW) on oxidative stress and muscle fatigue in response to acute exercise.MethodsTen male soccer players aged 20.9 ± 1.3 years old were subjected to exercise tests and blood sampling. Each subject was examined twice in a crossover double-blind manner; they were given either HW or placebo water (PW) for one week intervals. Subjects were requested to use a cycle ergometer at a 75 % maximal oxygen uptake (VO2) for 30 min, followed by measurement of peak torque and muscle activity throughout 100 repetitions of maximal isokinetic knee extension. Oxidative stress markers and creatine kinase in the peripheral blood were sequentially measured.ResultsAlthough acute exercise resulted in an increase in blood lactate levels in the subjects given PW, oral intake of HW prevented an elevation of blood lactate during heavy exercise. Peak torque of PW significantly decreased during maximal isokinetic knee extension, suggesting muscle fatigue, but peak torque of HW didn’t decrease at early phase. There was no significant change in blood oxidative injury markers (d-ROMs and BAP) or creatine kinease after exercise.ConclusionAdequate hydration with hydrogen-rich water pre-exercise reduced blood lactate levels and improved exercise-induced decline of muscle function. Although further studies to elucidate the exact mechanisms and the benefits are needed to be confirmed in larger series of studies, these preliminary results may suggest that HW may be suitable hydration for athletes.

Highlights

Since energy demands and oxygen consumption increase during supermaximal exercise, such as intermittent running, sprints, and jumps, production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and reactive nitrogen species (RNS) increase, threatening to disturb redox balance and cause oxidative stress
We evaluated the efficacy of hydrogen-rich water on healthy subjects by measuring muscle fatigue and blood lactate levels after exercise
Blood analysis for lactic acid, d-ROMs, biological antioxidant power (BAP) and creatine kinase (CK) As shown in Table 2, blood d-ROMs BAP and CK levels increased after exercise in subjects in both groups treated with placebo water (PW) and hydrogen-rich water (HW)

Summary

Introduction

Since energy demands and oxygen consumption increase during supermaximal exercise, such as intermittent running, sprints, and jumps, production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and reactive nitrogen species (RNS) increase, threatening to disturb redox balance and cause oxidative stress. The beneficial effects of hydrogen-rich water (HW) have been described in experimental and clinical disease conditions [7,8]. Since hydrogen is known to scavenge toxic ROS [12] and induce a number of antioxidant proteins [13,14], we hypothesized that drinking HW may be beneficial for athletes in reducing oxidative stress-induced muscle fatigue following acute exercise. Further studies are needed to elucidate the exact mechanisms and benefits, this report suggests that hydrogen-rich water might be an appropriate hydration fluid for athletes. It has been said that hydrogen can function as antioxidant, so we investigated the effect of hydrogen-rich water (HW) on oxidative stress and muscle fatigue in response to acute exercise

Methods

Results

Conclusion