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

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

Abstract

Background: Muscle 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.

Methods: Ten 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.

Results: Although 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.

Conclusion: Adequate 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.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Sequential changes of blood lactate levels during exercise. Blood lactate levels in the athletes given PW significantly increased immediately after exercise compared to the levels at pre-exercise. HW significantly reduced blood lactate levels post exercise using bicycle ergometer. (*p < 0.05 vs. time 0. #p < 0.05 vs HW, N = 10).
Figure 2
Figure 2
(A) Changes in peak torque (PT) every 20 repetitions (rep = 1 frame) during 100 maximum isokinetic knee extensions. PT of the subjects treated with PW significantly decreased during the initial 40-60 contractions by approximately 20-25 % of the initial values, followed by a phase with little change. On the other hand, there was no statistical difference between Frame 1 and Frame 2 in HW, indicating that HW prevented the decreasing the peak torque during the first 2 Frames. HW, Hydrogen rich water; PW, Placebo water. (*p < 0.05 vs Frame 1, N = 10). (B) Changes in median frequency (MDF) every 20 repetitions (rep = 1 Frame) during 100 maximum isokinetic knee extensions. Although exercise significantly reduced MDF values during the first 2 Frames, there was no statistical difference between HW and PW in all Frames. HW, Hydrogen rich water; PW, Placebo water. (*p < 0.05 vs Frame 1, N = 10). (C) Changes in mean power frequency (MPF) every 20 repetitions (rep = 1 Frame) during 100 maximum isokinetic knee extensions. There was no statistical difference between HW and PW in all Frames. HW, Hydrogen rich water; PW, Placebo water. (*p < 0.05 vs Frame 1, N = 10).

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