Hydrogen Rich Water Consumption Positively Affects Muscle Performance, Lactate Response, and Alleviates Delayed Onset of Muscle Soreness After Resistance Training

Abstract

Hydrogen rich water consumption positively affects muscle performance, lactate response, and alleviates delayed onset of muscle soreness after resistance training. J Strength Cond Res 36(10): 2792-2799, 2022-Positive outcomes of hydrogen rich water (HRW) supplementation on endurance performance have been shown, but the effects of HRW in resistance training are unclear. The aim of this study was to assess the effects of 1,260 ml of HRW intake on physiological, perceptual, and performance responses to a resistance training and after 24 hours of recovery. This randomized, double-blinded placebo-controlled cross-over study included 12 men aged 23.8 6 1.9 years. Subjects performed a half squat, knee flexion, and extension exercises with the load set at 70% of 1 repetition maximum for 3 sets (10 reps/set). Lunges were performed with a load of 30% of body mass for 3 sets (20 reps/set). Time of each set, lactate, and ratings of perceived exertion were assessed mid-way through exercise and immediately after the exercise. Creatine kinase, muscle soreness visual analog scale ratings, countermovement jump, and heart rate variability were evaluated before the training and at 30 minutes, 6, and 24 hours of recovery. Lunges were performed faster with HRW compared with placebo (p , 0.001). Hydrogen rich water reduced lactate at mid-way and immediately after the exercise (HRW: 5.3 6 2.1 and 5.1 6 2.2, placebo: 6.5 6 1.8 and 6.3 6 2.2 mmol•L 21 , p # 0.008). Visual analog scale ratings were significantly lower with HRW (26 6 11 vs. 41 6 20 mm, p 5 0.002) after 24 hours of recovery. In conclusion, an acute intermittent HRW hydration improved muscle function, reduced the lactate response, and alleviated delayed onset of muscle soreness.

Molecular Hydrogen Mitigates Performance Decrement during Repeated Sprints in Professional Soccer Players

“…We expected the effect size in this study to be medium ( d = 0.8) based on the results of Botek et al [ 30 ]. An a priori power analysis with respect to paired two-tailed t-test and parameters set to α = 0.05 and β = 0.20 was performed using G*Power version 3.1.9.7 (Heinrich-Heine-Universität, Düsseldorf, Germany).…”

“…The dose relative to body mass was 10.2 ± 1.1 μmol kg −1 . This HRW hydration protocol included a 1-week washout period similarly to previous HRW studies [ 24 , 28 , 30 ].…”

“…H 2 has also been shown to stimulate mitochondrial respiration, Q-cycle [ 25 ], and oxidative ATP phosphorylation (OXOPHOS) rate [ 26 ]. Pre-exercise HRW intake or H 2 inhalation has been shown to have an antifatigue effect across different modes of exercise, including endurance [ 27 , 28 , 29 ], strength-endurance drills [ 30 ], cycling anaerobic power output [ 31 ], maximal isokinetic muscle strength [ 32 ], and during prolonged, intermittent sprints [ 33 ]. H 2 administration strategies varied across studies, e.g., in duration of pre-exercise administration (30 min [ 30 ], 8 h [ 32 ], 24 h [ 28 ], 7 days [ 29 , 31 ], 2 weeks [ 33 ], and 4 weeks [ 27 ]) and administration mode (HRW [ 27 , 28 , 30 , 31 , 32 , 33 ], H 2 inhalation [ 29 ]), which complicates the comparison of the study results.…”

“…Pre-exercise HRW intake or H 2 inhalation has been shown to have an antifatigue effect across different modes of exercise, including endurance [ 27 , 28 , 29 ], strength-endurance drills [ 30 ], cycling anaerobic power output [ 31 ], maximal isokinetic muscle strength [ 32 ], and during prolonged, intermittent sprints [ 33 ]. H 2 administration strategies varied across studies, e.g., in duration of pre-exercise administration (30 min [ 30 ], 8 h [ 32 ], 24 h [ 28 ], 7 days [ 29 , 31 ], 2 weeks [ 33 ], and 4 weeks [ 27 ]) and administration mode (HRW [ 27 , 28 , 30 , 31 , 32 , 33 ], H 2 inhalation [ 29 ]), which complicates the comparison of the study results. However, there is a paucity of studies examining the antifatigue effect of HRW consumption on subsequent repeated sprint performance in team sport in general, and specifically in professional soccer.…”

Molecular Hydrogen Positively Affects Physical and Respiratory Function in Acute Post-COVID-19 Patients: A New Perspective in Rehabilitation

“…Molecular hydrogen (H 2 ) has been shown to be a healthy, safe gas [ 20 ] with a strong and selective antioxidative capability for scavenging the harmful hydroxyl radical and peroxynitrite anion [ 20 , 21 ]. Numerous studies have indicated that H 2 has anti-inflammatory [ 22 ], anti-apoptosis [ 23 ], antifatigue [ 24 , 25 , 26 , 27 ], and regulatory properties [ 28 ]. Based on the reported beneficial health effects across a variety of diagnoses [ 22 , 29 ], H 2 administration has recently been proposed as a promising therapeutic gas for COVID-19 patients [ 7 , 30 , 31 , 32 , 33 , 34 , 35 ].…”