The positive effects of hydrogen water on Parkinson’s disease are reflected in the following aspects:
Antioxidant Effect
The pathogenesis of Parkinson’s disease is closely related to oxidative stress, which produces a large amount of reactive oxygen species (ROS) such as hydroxyl radicals and peroxynitrite anions. These ROS attack nerve cells, leading to cellular damage and death. Hydrogen molecules are effective antioxidants that can selectively neutralize these highly oxidative ROS, reducing oxidative stress damage and protecting nerve cells.
Anti-inflammatory Effect
In patients with Parkinson’s disease, there is an inflammatory response in the brain, which promotes disease progression. Hydrogen molecules can reduce the release of inflammatory factors and decrease the inflammatory response, alleviating inflammation-induced damage to neural tissues. In animal experiments, hydrogen has been shown to reduce the acute neurotoxic effects of neurotoxins on dopaminergic neurons, significantly reducing the loss of dopaminergic neurons in Parkinson’s disease models.
Improvement of Gut Microbiota
The gut microbiota is closely related to Parkinson’s disease, and insufficient hydrogen production by the gut microbiota may play a role in the disease’s onset. Hydrogen water can regulate the balance of gut microbiota, increasing beneficial bacteria and reducing harmful bacteria. Through the gut-brain axis, it can improve brain function and the state of the nervous system, thus having a positive impact on Parkinson’s disease symptoms.
Improvement of Motor Symptoms
Several clinical studies have confirmed that drinking hydrogen water significantly improves the Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) scores in patients with Parkinson’s disease. This indicates that hydrogen water helps alleviate motor symptoms such as resting tremor, rigidity, and bradykinesia, improving patients’ motor abilities and physical coordination.
Improvement of Non-motor Symptoms
Patients with Parkinson’s disease often experience non-motor symptoms, such as sleep disorders and emotional issues. Experts have found that after inhaling hydrogen gas, both mood and sleep significantly improve. Since hydrogen water is a form of hydrogen intake, it may also have similar effects.
Research Evidence Supporting the Positive Effects of Hydrogen Water on Parkinson’s Disease
- Research at the Qingdao Special Medical Center of the Navy
Researchers, including Wang Xiaoying and Xu Changchun, observed 64 Parkinson’s disease patients treated at the Qingdao Special Medical Center of the Navy from June 2019 to February 2020. The hydrogen water group drank 800-1000 ml of hydrogen-rich water with a concentration above 1.6 mg/L daily, while the control group drank mineral water. Both groups took levodopa orally. After 3 months, the hydrogen water group had significantly lower UPDRS scores and higher ADL scores compared to the control group, with statistically significant differences. This suggests that hydrogen-rich water can significantly improve clinical symptoms in Parkinson’s patients and enhance their quality of life. - Research at Juntendo University Hospital in Japan
Yoritaka and colleagues conducted a clinical trial on Parkinson’s disease (PD) patients, recruiting 17 patients (11 females and 6 males), who drank 1 liter of hydrogen-rich water daily for 48 weeks, alongside levodopa treatment. The results showed that hydrogen water supplementation significantly improved UPDRS scores, while the placebo group continued to worsen. This confirmed the safety and tolerability of hydrogen-rich water as an adjunct therapy for PD and significantly improved the patients’ quality of life. - Research in Taiwan
A study by Hong CT and colleagues recruited 18 PD patients who received photobiomodulation (PBM) combined with hydrogen-rich water treatment for two weeks. Results showed a significant decrease in UPDRS scores in the first week of treatment, and this improvement lasted until the end of the treatment. No adverse reactions were observed. Even though the UPDRS scores slightly increased one week after the treatment, the improvement was still significant compared to baseline, suggesting that hydrogen water combined with photobiomodulation is safe and effective in treating Parkinson’s disease. - Basic Research Support
Numerous basic studies indicate that hydrogen molecules have a selective antioxidant effect, neutralizing highly oxidative ROS such as hydroxyl radicals and peroxynitrite anions. This reduces oxidative stress damage, prevents the onset and progression of Parkinson’s disease, and maintains cellular function. These findings provide theoretical support for the positive effects of hydrogen water on Parkinson’s disease.
