Molecular hydrogen as a means of enhancing the performance of soccer players

Purpose of the study: to determine the magnitude and type of the effects of hydrogen inhalation course on the work capacity and resting metabolic parameters of soccer players.

Materials and methods. The study was conducted on 26 soccer players who were divided into two groups: a control group (n = 12; 18.8 ± 0.35 years) and an experimental group (n = 14; 19.5 ± 0.45 years). The athletes corresponded to the stage of advanced sports mastery development. The players in the main group underwent 10 sessions of molecular hydrogen inhalation, each lasting 30 minutes. Work capacity was assessed using a test involving a continuous increase in workload on a treadmill. Resting metabolic rate and lactate concentration were also measured.

Results. Athletes in the experimental group demonstrated a significant increase in running speed at the anaerobic threshold by 11.57 % (p = 0.0015) compared with baseline values (before hydrogen inhalations), an increase in peak running speed by 6.58 % (p = 0.0005), an increase in oxygen uptake at the anaerobic threshold by 3.02 % (p = 0.0200), and a 20.66% reduction in maximal lactate concentration (p = 0.0107) during the treadmill test was observed. A trend toward an increase in maximal oxygen consumption (VO₂max) by 1.04 % (p = 0.0562) was also noted. No changes were observed in the control group during the twelve‑day period.

Conclusion: The experiment demonstrated that ten hydrogen inhalation sessions (5 sessions – 2 days break – 5 sessions), each lasting 30 minutes with an H₂ flow rate of 5600 ml/min, contribute to an increase in the physical performance capacity of soccer players.

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