The effects of hydrogen-rich water on exercise performance and lung function

INTERVENTION: In total, participants will visit on 6 occasions which include the following visits: Visit 1 ‐ Confirmation of group (indirect bronchoprovocation test ‐ see below for further detail) Visit 2 ‐ VO2 ma Xtest on a cycle ergometer Visit 3 ‐ Acute (following a single 1L of randomly assigned first water condition) Visit 4 ‐ Chronic (following 2 weeks of 1L a day of the randomly assigned first water condition) Visit 5 ‐ Acute (following a single 1L of randomly assigned second water condition) Visit 6 ‐ Chronic (following 2 weeks of 1L a day of the randomly assigned second water condition) Participants will be allocated into a 'healthy' group or the exercise‐induced bronchoconstriction (EIB) group using an indirect airway bronchoprovocation challenge (eucapnic voluntary hyperpnoea (EVH) challenge). The EVH challenge is a 6‐minute inhalation of a gas mixture containing 21% oxygen, 5% carbon dioxide and balance nitrogen at a high minute ventilation. In participants with EIB, lung function will significantly reduce (10% or more) following an EVH challenge compared to healthy volunteers. On the following visit, participants will complete a VO2 ma Xtest which assesses their current fitness level. Then, participants will be instructed to drink 1 litre a day of either hydrogen‐rich water or plain water for 2 weeks. There will be a 1‐week washout period then the following 2 weeks they will be instructed to drink the alternative drinking water. The order of drinking water will be randomised using computer randomisation software. At each visit, a 5km time trial will be completed including lung function at baseline. To assess the chronic effect of hydrogen‐rich water on airway inflammation, blood samples will be taken within 2 weeks of each condition. CONDITION: Exercise‐induced bronchoconstriction ; Respiratory PRIMARY OUTCOME: 1. Exercise performance measured using one 5km cycling time trial assessed by completion time. This will be done following a single 1L of the drink (acute) and following 2 weeks of drinking 1L a day of the drink (chronic). ; 2. Urine levels of 9a,11ß‐prostaglandin and Clara cell protein (CC16) measured in venous blood samples collected at the end of the two weeks of each water condition using enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method at baseline of that final visit. INCLUSION CRITERIA: 1. Ability to consent to the research 2. Aged 18 to 55 years old 3. Physically active (defined as engaging in at least 75 minutes of high intensity exercise a week) 4. Either a diagnosis of Exercise‐Induced Bronchoconstriction or without a diagnosis 5. Normal resting Forced Expiratory Volume in One Second (FEV1) defined as >80% predicted value. SECONDARY OUTCOME: To determine whether hydrogen‐rich water improves exercise performance and/or the physiological response to exercise, the following measures will be taken: ; 1. Gas exchange (VO2, VCO2) measured using a respiratory gas analyser at each 1km of the 5km time trials; 2. Perceptual responses measured using the Borg Rating of Perceived Exertion (RPE) scale at each 1km of the 5km time trials; 3. Heart rate measured using a heart rate Bluetooth chest band at each 1km of the 5km time trial; 4. Blood lactate concentration measured using finger prick blood samples before and after each 5km time trial; ; To determine whether hydrogen‐rich water improves lung function, the following outcome variable will be assessed: ; Lung function measured using spirometry following participants drinking 1 litre of water and following 2 weeks (1 litre of water a day)