In 2006, I was part of the research team to study the effects of drinking hydrogen-rich water on 49 patients receiving radiotherapy for malignant liver tumors. In this clinical trial, forty-nine subjects (33 men and 16 women) were enrolled between April and October 2006. The age of the patients ranged from 21 to 82 years (mean age 58.6 years) All patients were diagnosed either histologically or pathologically with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) or metastatic hepatic tumors. The aim of the study was to examine whether hydrogen treatment, in the form of hydrogen-supplemented water, improved Quality of Life (QOL) in patients receiving radiotherapy. Patients who undergo radio radiotherapy often experience fatigue and impaired quality of life (QOL). Many side effects of radiotherapy are believed to be associated with increased oxidative stress and inflammation due to the generation of reactive oxygen species during radiotherapy. In the medical world, hydrogen gas has been proven to be a therapeutic medical gas, with antioxidant properties, and can reduce inflammation in tissues. The results from this study was eventually published in the medical journal, “Medical Gas Research” on 7 June 2011 titled “Effects of drinking hydrogen-rich water on the quality of life of patients treated with radiotherapy for liver tumors”. The full text of this study can be found at: http://medicalgasresearch.com/content/1/1/11 The conclusion from this study is that the daily consumption of hydrogen-rich water can be a therapeutic strategy for improving QOL after radiation exposure without compromising anti-tumor effects. The results showed that the consumption of hydrogen-rich water for 6 weeks reduced reactive oxygen metabolites in the blood and maintained blood oxidation potential. QOL scores during radiotherapy were significantly improved in patients treated with hydrogen-rich water compared to patients receiving placebo water. There was no difference in tumor response to radiotherapy between the two groups. This study also suggested that there is good potential for the use of hydrogen gas to be used in the medical world. I am confident that more research studies will be done in the application of hydrogen gas in the future as a preventive medicine due to its antioxidant properties and anti-inflammation properties. Dr Kang Young Nam, |