Short-term H2 inhalation improves running performance and torso strength in healthy adults

Dejan Javorac; Valdemar Stajer; Laszlo Ratgeber; Jozsef Betlehem; Sergej Ostojic

doi:10.5114/biolsport.2019.88756

eISSN: 2083-1862
ISSN: 0860-021X

Biology of Sport

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4/2019
vol. 36

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abstract:

Original paper

Short-term H2 inhalation improves running performance and torso strength in healthy adults

Dejan Javorac

¹

,

Valdemar Stajer

¹

,

Laszlo Ratgeber

²

,

Jozsef Betlehem

²

,

Sergej Ostojic

^{1, 2}

University of Novi Sad, Faculty of Sport and Physical Education, Novi Sad, Serbia
University of Pécs, Faculty of Health Sciences, Pécs, Hungary

Biol Sport. 2019;36(4):333–339

DOI: https://doi.org/10.5114/biolsport.2019.88756

Online publish date: 2019/10/31

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In this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover pilot trial, we evaluated the effects of 7-day H₂ inhalation on exercise performance outcomes and serum hormonal and inflammation profiles in a cohort of young men and women. All participants (age 22.9 ± 1.5 years; body mass index 23.4 ± 2.5 kg m-2; 10 women and 10 men) were allocated to receive either gaseous hydrogen (4%) or placebo (room air) by 20-min once-per-day inhalation for 7 days, with a wash-out period of 7 days to prevent the residual effects of interventions across study periods. The primary treatment outcome was the change in running time-to-exhaustion in the incremental maximal test from baseline to day 7. Additionally, assessment of other exercise performance endpoints and clinical chemistry biomarkers was performed at baseline and at 7 days after each intervention. The trial was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (ID NCT03846141). Breathing 4% hydrogen for 20 min per day resulted in increased peak running velocity (by up to 4.2%) as compared to air inhalation (P = 0.05). Hydrogen inhalation resulted in a notable drop in serum insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) by 48.2 ng/mL at follow-up (95% confidence interval [CI]: from -186.7 to 89.3) (P < 0.05), while IGF-1 levels were elevated by 59.3 ng/mL after placebo intervention (95% CI; from -110.7 to 229.5) (P < 0.05). Inhalational hydrogen appears to show ergogenic properties in healthy men and women. Gaseous H₂ should be further evaluated for its efficacy and safety in an athletic environment.

keywords:

Short-term H2 inhalation improves running performance and torso strength in healthy adults

Dejan Javorac 1 , Valdemar Stajer 1 , Laszlo Ratgeber 2 , Jozsef Betlehem 2 , Sergej Ostojic 1, 2

Hydrogen, Running to exhaustion, Insulin, IGF-1, Ergogenic

Dejan Javorac

¹

,

Valdemar Stajer

¹

,

Laszlo Ratgeber

²

,

Jozsef Betlehem

²

,

Sergej Ostojic

^{1, 2}