title: Pilot study of H₂ therapy in Parkinson's disease: a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Oxidative stress is involved in the progression of Parkinson's disease (PD). Recent studies have confirmed that molecular hydrogen (H₂) functions as a highly effective antioxidant in cultured cells and animal models. Drinking H₂-dissolved water (H₂-water) reduced oxidative stress and improved Parkinson's features in model animals.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this a placebo-controlled, randomized, double-blind, parallel-group clinical pilot study, the authors assessed the efficacy of H₂ -water in Japanese patients with levodopa-medicated PD. Participants drank 1,000 mL/day of H₂-water or pseudo water for 48 weeks.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Total Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) scores in the H₂-water group (n=9) improved (median, -1.0; mean ± standard deviation, -5.7 ± 8.4), whereas UPDRS scores in the placebo group (n=8) worsened (median, 4.5; mean ± standard deviation, 4.1 ± 9.2). Despite the minimal number of patients and the short duration of the trial, the difference was significant (P<0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results indicated that drinking H₂-water was safe and well tolerated, and a significant improvement in total UPDRS scores for patients in the H₂-water group was demonstrated.
authors: Department of Neurology, Juntendo University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.
authors: Asako
authors: A
authors: Yoritaka
authors: Masashi
authors: M
authors: Takanashi
authors: Masaaki
authors: M
authors: Hirayama
authors: Toshiki
authors: T
authors: Nakahara
authors: Shigeo
authors: S
authors: Ohta
authors: Nobutaka
authors: N
authors: Hattori
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000978:Antiparkinson Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006859:Hydrogen / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007564:Japan; D007980:Levodopa / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000188:drug therapy*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D014867:Water / Q000008:administration & dosage
chemical_list: D000978:Antiparkinson Agents; D014867:Water; D007980:Levodopa; D006859:Hydrogen