The Effects of Supersaturated Hydrogen-Rich Water Bathing on Biomarkers of Muscular Damage and Soreness Perception in Young Men Subjected to High-Intensity Eccentric Exercise

Abstract

High-intensity eccentric exercise can cause a delayed onset of muscle soreness (DOMS), a short-term condition characterized by muscle damage and tenderness that might hold up recovery and jeopardize exercise routine. Previous studies indicated that hydrogen-rich water (HRW) might be a helpful topical intervention to boost recovery in musculoskeletal medicine, yet no data are available concerning the effectiveness and safety of whole-body bathing with supersaturated HRW after DOMS-inducing exercise. This study evaluates the effects of a single-session bathing with HRW on biochemical markers of muscular damage in healthy young men. The six volunteers who were exposed to DOMS-inducing eccentric exercise were assigned to either supersaturated HRW or control whole-body bathing in a double-blind crossover design. Immediately after an exercise session, the participants were immersed up to the neck into a 200 L bathtub with supersaturated HRW (8 mg of H2 per L) or control water (no hydrogen) for 30 min. Blood biomarkers of inflammation and muscular damage and Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) scores for muscle soreness were assessed at baseline (before exercise) and at 24-hour follow-up. Two-way ANOVA revealed a significant difference between two groups in serum creatine kinase (CK) response over the period of intervention ( P = 0.04 ). A single-session bathing in HRW prevented a rise in circulating biomarkers of muscular damage induced by exercise at 24-hour follow-up, retaining the levels of all biomarkers similar to the baseline values ( P > 0.05 ). On the other hand, serum CK, aldolase, and aspartate transaminase were significantly elevated at 24-hour follow-up as compared to the baseline levels after the control bath (342 ± 309 U/L vs. 465 ± 295 U/L; P > 0.05 ). HRW bath also induced a significant drop in VAS scores for muscle soreness in comparison with control water, both immediately after an intervention (32.7 ± 8.6% vs. 20.0 ± 12.8%; P = 0.02 ) and at 24-hour follow-up (31.6 ± 24.3% vs. 22.4 ± 27.5%; P = 0.03 ), respectively. No participants reported any major side effects during the trial. This pilot study suggests that the whole-body bathing in supersaturated HRW is a safe procedure that attenuates muscular damage and can ease sore muscles after high-intensity eccentric exercise.

A systematic literature review of the effects of molecular hydrogen during exercise

“…Not only has hydrogen-rich water been shown to reduce oxidative stress injury and muscle fatigue in athletes through consumption, but studies show even the topical application of HRW has also been shown to reduce muscular pathological processes associated with oxidative stress [6]. High intensity exercise may result in delayed onset of muscle soreness (DOMS) which may jeopardize the athlete's exercise routine.…”

“…High intensity exercise may result in delayed onset of muscle soreness (DOMS) which may jeopardize the athlete's exercise routine. In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover study in Serbia, six active, healthy male volunteers were exposed to DOMS-inducing eccentric leg press contractions and were immediately immersed up to the neck into a 200 L bathtub of supersaturated hydrogen-rich water (8mg of H2 per L) or placebo water (tap water with no hydrogen infusion) for 30 minutes [6]. The following blood markers were collected pre-exercise (baseline) and 24 hours after the exercise: creatine kinase (CK), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), aspartate transaminase (AST), troponin, C-reactive protein (CRP), aldolase, myoglobin, and white blood cell (WBC) count.…”

“…The hydrogen (H2) molecule can penetrate through the cell membrane and the mitochondria where it helps to maintain a state between oxidation and reduction and maximize aerobic energy production [5]. Molecular hydrogen can be administered by different methods (inhalation of H2 gas or as injectable saline solutions, topical packs, or tablets), but one of the most common ways is the oral ingestion of hydrogen-rich water (HRW) [2,[4][5][6]. HRW has a pH higher than normal water and has become commercially available [7].…”

Prospects for using molecular hydrogen in environmental and sport medicine (literature review)

“…Из выявленных нами тридцати публикаций девятнадцать цитируются в международной базе данных Scopus [1-4, 6-9, 11, [19][20][23][24][25][26][27][28][29][30] [20].…”

“…Другой коллектив авторов значительно позже опубликовал статью о влияние купания в насыщенной ВВ на биомаркеры мышечного повреждения и восприятия болезненности у молодых мужчин, подвергнутых высокоинтенсивным эксцентрическим упражнениям [29].…”