This study involves 16 endurance-untrained men aged 18-30 years. All participants drink hydrogen rich water (HRW) or placebo during the two days before the experiment (total volume 2100 ml) and during the testing day (total volume 1680 ml). All participants undergo one laboratory session (entry diagnostic) and two experimental sessions in the field with a washout period of 7 days. In the two experimental sessions, participants receive HRW or placebo in a randomized order. Each experimental session consisted of a pre-exercise phase, an exercise phase (5 km run), and a 24 h passive recovery phase. The following variables are assessed: running times (5 km distance and 200 m laps), heart rate, rating of perceived exertion, blood lactate, reactive strength index, subjective perceived muscle soreness, protein carbonyl content, malondialdehyde content, heart rate variability. Statistical analysis is based on analysis of variance for repeated measures with the factors water (HRW and placebo), time, and interaction. Fisher´s post hoc tests is used for pairwise comparison. The significance level is set at 0.05.
The aim of this randomized, double blinded, placebo controlled cross-over study is to evaluate the effect of hydrogen rich water intake on running performance, physiological and biochemical variables during endurance exercise and following recovery in endurance-untrained men.