Supplements

Baseline gut microbiota composition, particularly microbial hydrogen-producing capacity, may modify individual responses to hydrogen supplementation on sleep quality

In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of 44 healthy adults with poor sleep quality, hydrogen-rich jelly did not significantly improve sleep outcomes in the overall analysis. However, when participants were stratified by baseline abundance of hydrogen-producing bacteria (e.g., Bacteroides), those with lower abundance showed greater improvement in sleep quality and mental stress, suggesting a microbiome-dependent effect.

Last updated: Jul 29, 2026โ€ข1 RCTsโ€ข๐Ÿ“– Read as article โ†’

Evidence Score

Evidence Score44/100
Human RCTโ˜…โ˜…โ˜†โ˜†โ˜†
Meta-analysisโ˜†โ˜†โ˜†โ˜†โ˜†
Mechanismโ˜…โ˜…โ˜…โ˜…โ˜…
Safetyโ˜…โ˜…โ˜…โ˜…โ˜†
Confidencelow

Study Evidence

Study 1. Individual variability in hydrogen-producing microbes influences the response to hydrogen supplementation on sleep quality: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel study.

observational

Higashikawa F, Kanno K ยท Scientific reports (2026)

Participants: N/A
Duration: Not specified in abstract
Intervention: Hydrogen-rich jelly (vs. placebo jelly)
Outcome: Sleep quality (VAS score, PSQI, OSA-MA), mental stress (STAI), gut microbiota ฮฒ-diversity
Effect Size: N/A (interaction effects reported but no specific effect size given)
Population: Healthy adults with poor sleep quality (n=44)

Result:

PubMed: 42509250DOI: 10.1038/s41598-026-52342-9

Mechanism Graph

Hydrogen exerts antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects
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Hydrogen-producing bacteria in the gut (e.g., Bacteroides) may influence systemic hydrogen levels
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Baseline abundance of these bacteria modifies individual response to hydrogen supplementation
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Greater improvement in sleep quality and mental stress observed in those with lower hydrogen-producing bacteria

Limitations

  • โš Exploratory findings, not confirmatory; hypothesis-generating
  • โš Small sample size (n=44) limits generalizability
  • โš No significant overall effect, only subgroup interaction effects

Frequently Asked Questions

Does hydrogen supplementation improve sleep quality in healthy adults?โ–ผ

In this study, hydrogen-rich jelly did not significantly improve sleep quality in the overall group of healthy adults with poor sleep. However, a subgroup analysis suggested that individuals with lower baseline levels of hydrogen-producing gut bacteria may benefit more.

What role do gut bacteria play in the effect of hydrogen on sleep?โ–ผ

The study found that gut microbiota composition, specifically the abundance of hydrogen-producing bacteria like Bacteroides, influenced the response to hydrogen supplementation. Participants with fewer such bacteria showed greater improvements in sleep quality and mental stress.

Was this study a randomized controlled trial?โ–ผ

Yes, it was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel study with 44 healthy adults, registered in the UMIN Clinical Trial Registry.

What were the main limitations of this study?โ–ผ

The findings are exploratory and based on a small sample size. No significant overall effect was found, and the subgroup results require confirmation in larger studies.

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References

  1. 1.Higashikawa F, Kanno K. "Individual variability in hydrogen-producing microbes influences the response to hydrogen supplementation on sleep quality: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel study.." Scientific reports, 2026. PMID: 42509250 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-026-52342-9
Disclaimer: This content is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Evidence scores reflect the quality and quantity of available research, not clinical recommendations. Always consult a healthcare professional before starting any supplement or intervention.