The scienceMolecular hydrogen

The science behind molecular hydrogen.Two decades of peer reviewed research, explored, cited, and shared honestly.

The science

The science of molecular hydrogen

Molecular hydrogen (H₂) is one of the most actively studied small molecules in wellness research. Below is a plain-language look at what the published science explores — presented as research for you to read and interpret.

500+
published studies on molecular hydrogen
20+
years of peer-reviewed research
Peer
reviewed journals only

What is molecular hydrogen?

Molecular hydrogen (H₂) is the smallest molecule in the universe — small enough to move freely through the body. Researchers have studied hydrogen-rich water and hydrogen gas for over two decades, exploring how the molecule interacts with cellular processes.

HEALR tablets release molecular hydrogen into water when dissolved. On this page we summarise what the published research has examined — as research, not as claims about our products.

  • The smallest molecule

    H₂ is studied for how readily it moves through the body.

  • Two decades of study

    Hundreds of peer-reviewed papers have examined molecular hydrogen.

  • Delivered through water

    HEALR tablets release H₂ into water when dissolved.

Molecular hydrogen by the numbers

Discover our science
  • 1,500

    Studies

    Peer-reviewed papers on molecular hydrogen, with 21 on our formula.

  • 20+

    Years

    Of published research worldwide

  • RCTs

    Human trials

    Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled designs

  • 100%

    Research-based

    Every finding here describes published H₂ research — not a product claim.

Discover our science

Before you read

These are not TGA approved claims nor do we intend them to be. This is a public body of research for you to make an informed decision on the function of molecular hydrogen.

The research library

A living index of peer-reviewed human trials on hydrogen-rich water. Presented as research — not health claims. Tap any study to read the source.

  1. Study No.1

    Hydrogen-rich water and exercise-related biomarkers in adults over 50 during resistance training

    Study typeDB-RCT
    AuthorKuzmanovic, et al.
    Duration (days)42
    Year2025
    FocusA randomized controlled pilot trial exploring hydrogen-rich water in relation to exercise & recovery.
    Dose24 mg/day in 2 doses (per 12 h)
    See details →
  2. Study No.2

    8-week hydrogen-rich water: appetite, body composition, sleep quality and GLP-1 (HYDRAPPET)

    Study typeDB-RCT
    AuthorTodorovic, et al.
    Duration (days)56
    Year2025
    FocusA randomized controlled trial exploring hydrogen-rich water in relation to body composition & appetite.
    Dose15 mg/day (5 mg / 333 mL, 3 doses)
    See details →
  3. Study No.3

    Hydrogen-rich water, muscle damage and power endurance in elite athletes: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial

    Study typeDB-RCT (pilot)
    AuthorOgannisyan, et al.
    Duration (days)28
    Year2025
    FocusA double-blind rct exploring hydrogen-rich water in relation to exercise & recovery.
    Dose8 mg/day; 1 tablet / 500 mL, 3×/day
    See details →
  4. Study No.4

    6-month hydrogen-rich water and molecular / phenotypic biomarkers of aging in older adults (70+)

    Study typeRCT
    AuthorZanini, et al.
    Duration (days)180
    Year2021
    FocusA randomized controlled pilot trial exploring hydrogen-rich water in relation to healthy aging.
    Dose7.5 mg H₂; open-cup tablets (15 ppm) 2×/day, empty stomach
    See details →
  5. Study No.5

    24-week high-concentration hydrogen-rich water: body composition, blood-lipid and inflammation biomarkers

    Study typeRCT
    AuthorLeBaron, et al.
    Duration (days)168
    Year2020
    FocusA randomized controlled trial exploring hydrogen-rich water in relation to metabolic & cardiovascular markers.
    Dose11 mg H₂/day; 1 tablet 3×/day in 250 mL (12–18°C)
    See details →
  6. Study No.6

    Hydrogen-rich water, liver-fat accumulation and liver-enzyme profiles: a randomized controlled pilot trial

    Study typeRCT
    AuthorKorovljev, et al.
    Duration (days)28
    Year2019
    FocusA randomized controlled pilot trial exploring hydrogen-rich water in relation to liver & metabolic markers.
    Dose9 mg H₂; 1 L/day of hydrogen-rich water
    See details →
  7. Study No.7

    Hydrogen vs. caffeine for alertness in sleep-deprived adults

    Study typeCross over study
    AuthorZanini, et al.
    Duration (days)1
    Year2020
    FocusA crossover study exploring hydrogen-rich water in relation to alertness & cognition.
    Dose4 mg H₂; single dose, 2 tablets / 500 mL
    See details →
  8. Study No.8

    Hydrogen-rich water and caffeine for alertness and brain metabolism in habitual coffee drinkers

    Study typeCross over study
    AuthorTodorovic, et al.
    Duration (days)1
    Year2021
    FocusA crossover study exploring hydrogen-rich water in relation to alertness & cognition.
    Dose4 mg H₂ and/or 50 mg caffeine (see source for groups)
    See details →
  9. Study No.9

    High-concentration hydrogen-rich water (24-week): body composition, blood lipids and inflammatory biomarkers

    Study typeRCT
    AuthorLeBaron, et al.
    Duration (days)168
    Year2022
    FocusA randomized controlled trial exploring hydrogen-rich water in relation to metabolic & cardiovascular markers.
    Dose>11 mg H₂/day; 1 tablet 3×/day in 250 mL (12–18°C)
    See details →
  10. Study No.10

    Biological effects of hydrogen water: a randomized, placebo-controlled trial

    Study typeRCT
    AuthorKura, et al.
    Duration (days)56
    Year2022
    FocusA randomized, placebo-controlled trial exploring hydrogen-rich water in relation to liver & metabolic markers.
    Dose>4 mg H₂/day; 1 tablet / 330 mL, 3×/day
    See details →
  11. Study No.11

    28-day hydrogen-rich water and exercise capacity in mid-age women

    Study typeRCT
    AuthorOstojic, et al.
    Duration (days)28
    Year2018
    FocusA randomized controlled trial exploring hydrogen-rich water in relation to exercise & metabolism.
    Dose9 mg H₂; 1 L/day at 9 ppm
    See details →
  12. Study No.12

    Acute molecular hydrogen supplementation and submaximal exercise indices

    Study typeRCT
    AuthorLeBaron, et al.
    Duration (days)1
    Year2019
    FocusA randomized, double-blind crossover pilot exploring hydrogen-rich water in relation to exercise & recovery.
    Dose5 mg H₂
    See details →
  13. Study No.13

    Hydrogen-rich water hydrotherapy vs. RICE after acute ankle sprain in athletes

    Study typeRCT
    AuthorJavorac, et al.
    Duration (days)1
    Year2020
    FocusA randomized non-inferiority pilot trial exploring hydrogen-rich water in relation to recovery.
    Dose8 ppm H₂ (ankle bathing — see source)
    See details →
  14. Study No.14

    Molecular hydrogen, coenzyme Q10 and platelet mitochondrial bioenergetics: a double-blind randomized controlled trial

    Study typeDB-RCT
    AuthorSumbalova, et al.
    Duration (days)56
    Year2023
    FocusA double-blind rct exploring hydrogen-rich water in relation to cellular energy.
    Dose>4 mg/L H₂; 3×/day (see source)
    See details →
  15. Study No.15

    Supersaturated hydrogen-rich water bathing: biomarkers of muscular damage and soreness after eccentric exercise

    Study typeDB cross over study
    AuthorTodorovic, et al.
    Duration (days)1
    Year2020
    FocusA double-blind crossover study exploring hydrogen-rich water in relation to recovery (bathing).
    Dose8 ppm H₂; single 30-min session, super-saturated HRW
    See details →
  16. Study No.16

    12-week hydrogen-rich water: body composition, short-chain fatty acids and brain metabolism

    Study typeDB-RCT
    AuthorKorovljev, et al.
    Duration (days)84
    Year2023
    FocusA randomized controlled trial exploring hydrogen-rich water in relation to body composition & metabolism.
    Dose7.5 mg/day in 2 doses
    See details →
  17. Study No.17

    Medium-term hydrogen-rich water and sperm-quality biomarkers: a randomized controlled pilot trial

    Study typePilot-RCT
    AuthorStager, et al.
    Duration (days)56
    Year2023
    FocusA randomized controlled pilot trial exploring hydrogen-rich water in relation to reproductive markers.
    Dose15 mg/day in 4 doses (1 tablet / 250 mL per dose)
    See details →
  18. Study No.18

    Hydrogen-rich water and fecal propionic-acid (short-chain fatty acid) levels in adults

    Study typePilot-RCT
    AuthorKorovljev, et al.
    Duration (days)12
    Year2023
    FocusA randomized controlled pilot trial exploring hydrogen-rich water in relation to gut & metabolism.
    Dose3 mg/day
    See details →
  19. Study No.19

    Molecular hydrogen and the brain glutamate / GABA-glutamine cycle in adults

    Study typePilot with historical controls
    AuthorKorovljev, et al.
    Duration (days)84
    Year2023
    FocusA pilot study exploring hydrogen-rich water in relation to brain metabolism.
    Dose7.5 mg/day
    See details →

New to hydrogen tablets? Read our guide — the best hydrogen tablets in Australia: what to look for before buying.

Guided by leading hydrogen science

Tyler W. LeBaron, MSc

Tyler W. LeBaron, MSc

Founder, Molecular Hydrogen Institute · CSO, INHALE H2

Founder of the independent Molecular Hydrogen Institute and an internationally recognised researcher and educator in molecular hydrogen science, with more than 15 years advancing research and education in the field. He serves as Chief Scientific Officer of INHALE H2 — the hydrogen inhaler carried by HEALR.

How we approach the science

We believe wellness should be led by science and guided by education. Here's how we handle research and communicate responsibly.

01

We cite, we don't claim

We present peer-reviewed research as research, and let you read and interpret it rather than making promises about outcomes.

02

Peer reviewed only

We reference studies published in scientific journals, not anecdotes or pseudoscience.

03

Honest about what's emerging

Molecular hydrogen is an active, evolving field. We're clear about what's early and what's well-studied.

Hydrogen inhalation research

Molecular hydrogen can also be delivered by inhalation. The human trials below study hydrogen (or hydrogen–oxygen) gas breathed directly, a separate body of research to the hydrogen-rich water studies above. Presented as research, not health claims. Tap any study to read the source.

  1. Study No.1

    13-week hydrogen–oxygen inhalation and liver-fat / liver-enzyme markers in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease

    Study typeRCT (placebo-controlled) · inhalation
    AuthorTao, et al.
    Duration (days)91
    Year2022
    FocusA randomized, placebo-controlled trial examining hydrogen–oxygen inhalation in relation to serum lipid and liver-fat markers in adults with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.
    DoseHydrogen/oxygen inhalation (13 weeks)
    See details →
  2. Study No.2

    Low-dose hydrogen–oxygen inhalation and ambulatory blood pressure in midlife/older adults with hypertension

    Study typeRCT (placebo-controlled) · inhalation
    AuthorLiu, et al.
    Duration (days)14
    Year2022
    FocusA randomized, placebo-controlled trial examining hydrogen–oxygen inhalation in relation to 24-hour ambulatory blood-pressure measures.
    Dose66% H₂ / 33% O₂, 4 h/day
    See details →
  3. Study No.3

    Molecular hydrogen inhalation and resting metabolism in healthy females

    Study typeDB-RCT (crossover) · inhalation
    AuthorGrepl, et al.
    Duration (days)1
    Year2025
    FocusA randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover study examining a single session of molecular-hydrogen inhalation in relation to resting respiratory-gas and metabolic measures.
    DoseNasal cannula, 300 mL/min, 60 min (single session)
    See details →
  4. Study No.4

    Short-term hydrogen inhalation and cognitive-test measures in older women (pilot)

    Study typePilot study · inhalation
    AuthorKorovljev, et al.
    Duration (days)28
    Year2020
    FocusA pilot study examining four weeks of short-term hydrogen inhalation in relation to cognitive-test scores (MMSE, ADAS-Cog) in community-dwelling older women.
    DoseInhalation, 15 min/day
    See details →

Important

The information on this page is provided for general educational purposes only and summarises third-party scientific research on molecular hydrogen. It is not medical advice and is not a statement about the effects of any HEALR product.

HEALR products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before changing your health routine. References to studies describe published research; individual results are not implied.

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