BACKGROUND:
Recent studies showed a positive effect of hydrogen rich water (HRW) intake on acid-base homeostasis at rest. We investigated 2-weeks of hydrogen rich water HRW intake on repeated sprint performance and acid-base status during prolonged intermittent cycling exercise.

METHODS:
In a cross over single-blind protocol, 8 trained male cyclists (age [mean±SD] 41±7 years, body mass 72.3±4.4 kg, height 1.77±0.04 m, maximal oxygen uptake [V̇O2max] 52.6±4.4 mL·kg-1·min-1) were provided daily with 2 liters of placebo normal water (PLA, pH 7.6, oxidation/reduction potential [ORP] +230 mV, free hydrogen content 0 ppb) or hydrogen rich water HRW (pH 9.8, ORP -180 mV, free Hydrogen 450 ppb). Tests were performed at baseline and after each period of 2 weeks of treatment. The treatments were counter-balanced and the sequence randomized. The 30-minute intermittent cycling trial consisted in 10 3-minute blocks, each one composed by 90 seconds at 40% V̇O2max, 60 seconds at 60% V̇O2max, 16 seconds all out sprint, and 14 seconds active recovery. Oxygen uptake (V̇O2), heart rate and power output were measured during the whole test, while mean and peak power output (PPO), time to peak power and Fatigue Index (FI) were determined during all the 16 seconds sprints. Lactate, pH and bicarbonate (HCO3-) concentrations were determined at rest and after each sprint on blood obtained by an antecubital vein indwelling catheter.

RESULTS:
In the PLA group, PPO in absolute values decreased significantly at the 8th and 9th of 10 sprints and in relative values, ΔPPO, decreased significantly at 6th, 8th and 9th of 10 sprints (by mean: -12±5%, P<0.006), while it remained unchanged in hydrogen rich water HRW group. Mean power, FI, time to peak power and total work showed no differences between groups. In both conditions lactate levels increased while pH and HCO3- decreased progressively as a function of the number of sprints.

CONCLUSIONS:
Two weeks of hydrogen rich water HRW intake may help to maintain PPO in repetitive sprints to exhaustion over 30 minutes.

J Sports Med Phys Fitness. 2018 May;58(5):612-621. doi: 10.23736/S0022-4707.17.06883-9. Epub 2017 Apr 26.
Effects of hydrogen rich water on prolonged intermittent exercise.
Da Ponte A1,2, Giovanelli N3,4, Nigris D5, Lazzer S3,4.
Author information
1
Department of Medical and Biological Sciences, University of Udine, Udine, Italy – dott.daponte@gmail.com.
2
School of Sports Medicine, University of Udine, Udine, Italy – dott.daponte@gmail.com.
3
Department of Medical and Biological Sciences, University of Udine, Udine, Italy.
4
School of Sport Sciences, University of Udine, Udine, Italy.
5
Department of Laboratory Medicine, University of Udine, Udine, Italy.

PMID: 28474871 DOI: 10.23736/S0022-4707.17.06883-9