Hydrogen-rich water supplementation produces statistically significant but clinically modest reductions in total cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol in overweight and obese adults with metabolic comorbidities, with minimal effects on triglycerides and HDL-cholesterol. These lipid-lowering effects are below thresholds considered clinically meaningful for cardiovascular risk reduction and do not support routine use of HRW as a lipid-lowering therapy outside research settings. Further adequately powered, longer-term randomized controlled trials are necessary before hydrogen-rich water can be considered for dyslipidemia management.
Plain-Language Summary
Researchers analyzed 13 randomized controlled trials involving 757 overweight or obese adults to see if hydrogen-rich water (water infused with hydrogen gas) could improve cholesterol levels. The analysis found that hydrogen-rich water produced small reductions in total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol (the "bad" cholesterol), but these improvements were too modest to meaningfully reduce heart disease risk. The effects on triglycerides and HDL cholesterol (the "good" cholesterol) were minimal or absent.
Abstract
Objective: Obesity-related dyslipidemia remains a significant health challenge, contributing to increased cardiovascular risk. Hydrogen-rich water (HRW) has been proposed as a potential adjunctive intervention due to its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the effects of HRW on lipid profiles in adults with overweight or obesity. Methods: We searched Scopus, PubMed, Web of Science, and Embase for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) published up to November 2025 that compared HRW with placebo or standard water in adults with mean body mass index (BMI) ≥ 25 kg/m². Random-effects meta-analyses were performed to estimate pooled weighted mean differences (WMDs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Results: Twelve articles comprising 13 RCTs (n = 757 participants) were included. HRW significantly reduced total cholesterol (TC) (WMD: − 6.71 mg/dL; 95% CI: − 10.38 to − 3.04; P < 0.001) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) (WMD: − 3.21 mg/dL; 95% CI: − 6.31 to − 0.10; P = 0.043). A small reduction in high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) was observed (WMD: − 1.16 mg/dL; 95% CI: − 1.92 to − 0.40; P = 0.003). Triglycerides showed no significant change (WMD: − 4.21 mg/dL; 95% CI: − 17.75 to 9.32; P = 0.54). Most trials enrolled overweight or obese adults with cardiometabolic comorbidities. Subgroup analyses were underpowered and considered hypothesis-generating. Conclusion: HRW supplementation in overweight or obese adults produces small, statistically detectable but clinically modest reductions in TC and LDL-C, with minimal effects on TG and HDL-C. These effects are below thresholds considered meaningful for cardiovascular risk reduction and should not justify routine use of HRW as a lipid-lowering therapy outside of research settings and these findings primarily apply to adults with preexisting metabolic conditions and should not be generalized to all overweight/obese individuals. Any potential role remains limited to an investigational adjunct, and further adequately powered, longer-term RCTs are needed before HRW can be considered in dyslipidemia management.
