Research article - (2026)25, 744 - 752
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.52082/jssm.2026.744
Effects of Hydrogen-Rich Water Supplementation on Exercise Performance, Autonomic Nervous System Recovery, and Blood Lactate Concentration During Repeated Sprint Exercise in Male University Athletes
Zhihao Chen, Meilan Chi, Ruizhi Liu, Lianzhen Ma, Yupeng Shen
Institutional Affiliations: School of Physical Education and Sports Science, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, China

Yupeng Shen
✉ Institutional Affiliations: School of Physical Education and Sports Science, South China Normal University, Guangzhou 510006, China
Email: yupengshen@scnu.edu.cn
Received: 17-04-2026 -- Accepted: 13-07-2026
Published (online): 01-09-2026
Narrated in English

ABSTRACT

Hydrogen-rich water (HRW) supplementation has been proposed to exert anti-fatigue effects during exercise; however, its impact on exercise performance and autonomic nervous system (ANS) function during repeated sprinting remains unclear. The aim of this study was to examine the effects of acute pre-exercise HRW ingestion on repeated sprint performance, ANS regulation, and blood lactate concentration. This randomized, single-blind, placebo-controlled crossover study included 13 male university athletes (23.9 ± 2.0 years). Each participant completed two sessions of 7×6-second all-out cycling sprints interspersed with 30-second recovery intervals, with a one-week washout period between sessions. Critical flicker fusion frequency, heart rate, heart rate variability (HRV), and blood lactate were assessed at baseline, during exercise, and at 0-5 min and 10 min post-exercise. Compared to the placebo trial, the HRW trial demonstrated significantly higher average power output (d = 0.61) and significantly lower total work decrement and fatigue index (d = 0.62; d = 0.64). Post-exercise HRV recovery was significantly accelerated in the HRW trial, including RMSSD (d = 0.62), LF/HF ratio (d = 0.82), SampEn (d = 0.79), and DFAα1 (d = 0.79). Blood lactate at 3 min post-exercise was approximately 1 mmol/L lower in the HRW trial (d = 0.64). These findings suggest that acute HRW ingestion attenuates the decline in power output, accelerates ANS recovery, and enhances lactate clearance following repeated sprint exercise.

Key words: Hydrogen-rich-water, repeated sprint ability, heart rate variability, critical flicker fusion frequency, lactate

Key Points
  • Acute pre-exercise ingestion of hydrogen-rich water significantly enhances repeated sprint performance by reducing power decrement and sustaining higher average power output across sprints.
  • Hydrogen-rich water intake significantly accelerates post-exercise recovery of autonomic nervous system regulation and improves blood lactate clearance following repeated sprint exercise.








Back
|
Full Text
|
PDF
|
Share