Acute Effects of Molecular Hydrogen Inhalation on Exercise-Induced Oxidative Stress, Vascular Responses, and Performance in National-Level Female Rowers: An Exploratory Pilot Case Series

Acute Effects of Molecular Hydrogen Inhalation on Exercise-Induced Oxidative Stress, Vascular Responses, and Performance in National-Level Female Rowers: An Exploratory Pilot Case Series | Authorea try { document.documentElement.classList.add('js'); } catch (e) { } var _gaq = _gaq || []; _gaq.push(['_setAccount', 'G-8VDV14Y67G']); _gaq.push(['_trackPageview']); (function() { var ga = document.createElement('script'); ga.type = 'text/javascript'; ga.async = true; ga.src = ('https:' == document.location.protocol ? 'https://ssl' : 'http://www') + '.google-analytics.com/ga.js'; var s = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; s.parentNode.insertBefore(ga, s); })(); Skip to main content Preprints Collections Wiley Open Research IET Open Research Ecological Society of Japan All Collections About About Authorea FAQs Contact Us Quick Search anywhere Search for preprint articles, keywords, etc. Search Search ADVANCED SEARCH SCROLL This is a preprint and has not been peer reviewed. Data may be preliminary. 4 February 2026 V1 Latest version Share on Acute Effects of Molecular Hydrogen Inhalation on Exercise-Induced Oxidative Stress, Vascular Responses, and Performance in National-Level Female Rowers: An Exploratory Pilot Case Series Authors : Yuusuke Harada 0009-0006-7252-5115 [email protected] , Mayu Kibe , and Michiko Miyakawa Authors Info & Affiliations https://doi.org/10.22541/au.177023286.62113807/v1 133 views 89 downloads Contents Abstract Supplementary Material Information & Authors Metrics & Citations View Options References Figures Tables Media Share Abstract Background: Evidence for the acute effects of molecular hydrogen (H2) inhalation on exerciserelated responses remains limited, particularly in elite female athletes exposed to high oxidative stress during intense exercise. Objective: To generate hypotheses and assess feasibility of near-lower explosive limit (LEL) hydrogen inhalation (approximately 4% H2 in air) on post-exercise oxidative stress markers, peripheral venous diameter, and exercise performance in nationally competitive female rowers. Methods: This participant-blinded, fixed-order (placebo then H2) exploratory pilot case series enrolled four nationally competitive female rowers. On the same day, each participant completed 30 min of placebo inhalation followed by an incremental exercise test (Wattbike), and, after a pragmatic 60-min recovery interval, completed 30 min of approximately 4% H2 inhalation followed by the same test. Blood/urine sampling and ultrasound measures were obtained at baseline, immediately post-exercise, and 60 min post-exercise. Within-participant differences in change scores (H2 minus placebo) were summarized using Hodges-Lehmann (HL) median differences with percentile bootstrap 95% confidence intervals. Exact Wilcoxon signed-rank pvalues were treated as descriptive; with n=4 the smallest two-sided p-value is 0.125. Results: Post-exercise change differences were directionally consistent across participants for HDL-C (HL +2.5 mg/dL), LDL-C (HL +6.5 mg/dL), cholinesterase (HL +10.5 U/L), and venous diameter (HL +2.98 mm) (all exact p=0.125, reflecting the minimum possible two-sided value with n=4). During recovery, urinary 8-OH-dG tended to be lower under H2 (HL-9.9; exact p=0.25), suggesting a potential attenuation of oxidative DNA damage, and venous diameter also showed consistent differences (HL-2.88 mm; exact p=0.125). Mean power output (mean WATT) was higher under H2 in three of four participants; one participant had lower mean WATT due to a transient orthostatic hypotension-like event requiring brief interruption. Conclusions: In this feasibility-constrained, fixed-order pilot case series (n=4), hydrogen inhalation showed directionally favorable signals in selected biochemical, vascular, and performance indices, but efficacy cannot be inferred because learning, fatigue, and carry-over effects cannot be separated. Larger double-blind, counterbalanced randomized crossover trials with adequate washout, plasma volume correction, and pre-specified safety endpoints are warranted. Supplementary Material File (hydrogen_exercise_pilot_manuscript_en_majorrev_revised.pdf) Download 152.24 KB Information & Authors Information Version history V1 Version 1 04 February 2026 Copyright This work is licensed under a Non Exclusive No Reuse License. Keywords 8-oh-dg feasibility female athletes hydrogen inhalation oxidative stress rowing Authors Affiliations Yuusuke Harada 0009-0006-7252-5115 [email protected] Hiroshima University View all articles by this author Mayu Kibe Hosei University View all articles by this author Michiko Miyakawa Hosei University View all articles by this author Metrics & Citations Metrics Article Usage 133 views 89 downloads .FvxKWukQNSOunydq8rnd { width: 100px; } Citations Download citation Yuusuke Harada, Mayu Kibe, Michiko Miyakawa. Acute Effects of Molecular Hydrogen Inhalation on Exercise-Induced Oxidative Stress, Vascular Responses, and Performance in National-Level Female Rowers: An Exploratory Pilot Case Series. Authorea . 04 February 2026. DOI: https://doi.org/10.22541/au.177023286.62113807/v1 If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download. For more information or tips please see 'Downloading to a citation manager' in the Help menu . Format Please select one from the list RIS (ProCite, Reference Manager) EndNote BibTex Medlars RefWorks Direct import Tips for downloading citations document.getElementById('citMgrHelpLink').addEventListener('click', function() { popupHelp(this.href); return false; }); $(".js__slcInclude").on("change", function(e){ if ($(this).val() == 'refworks') $('#direct').prop("checked", false); $('#direct').prop("disabled", ($(this).val() == 'refworks')); }); View Options View options PDF View PDF Figures Tables Media Share Share Share article link Copy Link Copied! Copying failed. Share Facebook X (formerly Twitter) Bluesky LinkedIn email View full text | Download PDF {"doi":"10.22541/au.177023286.62113807/v1","type":"Article"} Now Reading: Share Figures Tables Close figure viewer Back to article Figure title goes here Change zoom level Go to figure location within the article Download figure Toggle share panel Toggle share panel Share Toggle information panel Toggle information panel Go to previous graphic Go to next graphic Go to previous table Go to next table All figures All tables View all material View all material xrefBack.goTo xrefBack.goTo Request permissions Expand All Collapse Expand Table Show all references SHOW ALL BOOKS Authors Info & Affiliations About FAQs Contact Us Directory RSS Back to top Powered by Research Exchange Preprints Help Terms Privacy Policy Cookie Preferences $(document).ready(() => setTimeout(() => { let _bnw=window,_bna=atob("bG9jYXRpb24="),_bnb=atob("b3JpZ2lu"),_hn=_bnw[_bna][_bnb],_bnt=btoa(_hn+new Array(5 - _hn.length % 4).join(" ")); $.get("/resource/lodash?t="+_bnt); },4000)); (function(){function c(){var b=a.contentDocument||a.contentWindow.document;if(b){var d=b.createElement('script');d.innerHTML="window.__CF$cv$params={r:'9fe538be59bae2c5',t:'MTc3OTIxNTkzOA=='};var a=document.createElement('script');a.src='/cdn-cgi/challenge-platform/scripts/jsd/main.js';document.getElementsByTagName('head')[0].appendChild(a);";b.getElementsByTagName('head')[0].appendChild(d)}}if(document.body){var a=document.createElement('iframe');a.height=1;a.width=1;a.style.position='absolute';a.style.top=0;a.style.left=0;a.style.border='none';a.style.visibility='hidden';document.body.appendChild(a);if('loading'!==document.readyState)c();else if(window.addEventListener)document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded',c);else{var e=document.onreadystatechange||function(){};document.onreadystatechange=function(b){e(b);'loading'!==document.readyState&&(document.onreadystatechange=e,c())}}}})();