A 2025 double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial has added strong new evidence to the growing field of hydrogen therapy — showing that hydrogen tablets are not only safe, but remarkably effective for high-performance athletes.
Published in the Journal of Lifestyle Medicine, the study tracked 22 elite-level female athletes over 28 days. Those supplementing with hydrogen-generating tablets experienced:
A significant increase in muscle mass
A reduction in body fat percentage
A 12.6% improvement in maximal torque after warm-up
Decreased creatine kinase levels (less muscle damage)
Elevated anti-inflammatory markers (IL-10)
These changes occurred without any negative effects on training adaptation, making hydrogen tablets one of the most targeted and athlete-friendly recovery tools available today.
What Are Hydrogen Tablets — and How Do They Work?
Hydrogen tablets are compact, dissolvable supplements that release molecular hydrogen gas (H2) into water when dropped into a liquid. Once consumed, the dissolved H2 rapidly diffuses into the bloodstream and cells — where it selectively neutralises harmful free radicals like hydroxyl and peroxynitrite, while preserving beneficial reactive oxygen species (ROS) needed for adaptation.
This selective antioxidant action is why hydrogen tablets stand apart from high-dose vitamins like C and E, which can blunt training benefits by shutting down all oxidative signalling.
The Study: Elite Athletes, Real Results
The clinical trial was conducted on 22 female athletes in professional handball and skeleton, both anaerobically demanding sports known to generate high oxidative and inflammatory stress.
Athletes were split into two groups:
One consumed 8 mg/day of molecular hydrogen via effervescent tablets
The other received a taste- and texture-matched placebo
After 28 days, results showed that the hydrogen tablet group achieved:
Muscle Mass Increased
Statistically significant increases in both absolute and percentage lean mass, with a reduction in fat mass.
Strength Output Improved
Maximal torque post-warm-up increased by 12.6%, indicating better force production and explosive power.
Recovery Speed Accelerated
CK levels dropped — a clear sign of less muscle fibre damage and improved post-training recovery.
Inflammation Modulation (Not Suppression)
IL-10, an anti-inflammatory cytokine, rose, helping reduce excessive inflammation without blocking beneficial stress signals.
No Side Effects
No adverse events were reported, and there was no reduction in training adaptation — a critical factor when compared to traditional antioxidants.
Why This Matters: Hydrogen Tablets vs. Conventional Recovery Supplements
Most recovery supplements fall into one of two categories:
Stimulants — masking fatigue without addressing the root cause
Broad-spectrum antioxidants, which often suppress both harmful and helpful stress responses
Hydrogen tablets do neither. They target oxidative stress only when it becomes excessive, allowing the body to maintain healthy cellular signaling and adaptation. This mechanism, known as mitohormesis, helps improve mitochondrial resilience — a cornerstone of human performance and long-term health.
Backed by Science. Delivered by HEALR.
The exact delivery format used in this study — magnesium-based hydrogen-generating tablets — is the same approach used in HEALR H2.
No gimmicks.
No artificial sweeteners.
No dyes or fillers.
Just pharmaceutical-grade elemental magnesium reacting with water to produce therapeutic levels of molecular hydrogen gas — the way it was tested in elite sport.
Conclusion
If elite athletes can gain measurable improvements in strength, composition, and recovery in just 28 days — using hydrogen tablets and no other changes to training — the implications are clear:
This isn’t a trend. It’s therapeutic recovery backed by data.
Study Citation
Ogannisyan M, Slivin A, LeBaron TW, et al. Hydrogen-Rich Water Decreases Muscle Damage and Improves Power Endurance in Elite Athletes: A Randomised, Double-Blinded, Placebo-Controlled Trial. J Lifestyle Med. 2025 Feb;15(1):8–17. PMCID: PMC12076047
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12076047/