Study
The effects of 6-month hydrogen-rich water intake on molecular and phenotypic biomarkers of aging in older adults aged 70 years and over: A randomized controlled pilot trial
6 months of hydrogen-rich water preserved telomere length and increased TET2 expression in adults aged 70+ vs controls who showed telomere shortening.
Summary Can hydrogen-rich water slow signs of aging in older adults? Show / hide ↓
Researchers randomly assigned 40 adults aged 70 and over to drink about half a liter of hydrogen-rich water or regular water daily for six months. Hydrogen-rich water contains extra hydrogen gas. People drinking it maintained the length of their telomeres, protective sections at the ends of chromosomes, while the regular-water group had shorter telomeres. The hydrogen-water group also had higher TET2 levels, a protein involved in controlling how genes work, and performed better on a chair-stand test. Some brain chemicals linked with nerve-cell health also increased, but the study was small and came from one research group.
What this means for you: This small study does not show that hydrogen water extends life or prevents aging-related disease. It is not strong enough to justify buying hydrogen water, though larger and independent studies could clarify whether the findings are real.
early evidence40 adults aged 76.0 +/- 5.6 years were randomized to drink 0.5 L/day of hydrogen-rich water (15 ppm H2) or control water for 6 months. The HRW group preserved telomere length (baseline 0.99 +/- 0.15, follow-up 1.02 +/- 0.26) while controls showed shortening (baseline 0.92 +/- 0.27, follow-up 0.79 +/- 0.15), treatment-by-time interaction p=0.049. TET2 expression, an epigenetic regulator involved in DNA demethylation, increased significantly more in the HRW group (p=0.040). Chair stand performance improved in HRW vs control (p=0.01). Brain metabolites (NAA, choline, creatine) increased in specific brain regions in the HRW group (p<0.05). No severe adverse effects reported. This is the most longevity-relevant human trial of hydrogen water, but it is pilot-sized (N=40) and from a single research group. The findings warrant replication in larger cohorts.
Owing to pleiotropic mechanisms of hydrogen action, this simple biomedical gas could be recognized as a possible anti-aging agent that tackles several hallmarks of aging, including loss of function and telomere length shortening.
Small sample size (N=40). Single research group (University of Novi Sad, Serbia). No effect sizes or confidence intervals reported for telomere length. Multiple comparisons without correction. Control group baseline telomere length was already lower (0.92 vs 0.99), suggesting possible baseline imbalance. No replication by independent groups as of 2026.
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