Some researchers claim they\u2019ve found a way to combat diseases and enable space travel using\u2026 \u201clight water\u201d! You couldn\u2019t tell the difference between tap water and deuterium-depleted water, but the other one is promoted to protect against cancer, radiation, and more. In the absence of solid evidence, however, DDW looks like just another fad.<\/p>\n
A water molecule contains 2 atoms of hydrogen and 1 atom of oxygen (H2<\/sub>O).<\/p>\n Hydrogen exists in different forms, called isotopes<\/b>, depending on the number of neutrons – neutral particles – in its core. The isotope without neutrons (H – protium) is the most abundant, but water molecules also contain a small amount of deuterium (D or hydrogen-2).<\/p>\n Deuterium, having 1 neutron, is about 2 times heavier than regular hydrogen. Thus, we call water with reduced deuterium content \u201clight water\u201d or deuterium-depleted water (DDW)<\/b>.<\/p>\n The natural deuterium levels in water depend on different factors such as [R<\/a>, R<\/a>]:<\/p>\n A standard concentration of deuterium in water is 150 ppm<\/b> (parts per million) or 1 atom of deuterium per 6400 atoms of regular hydrogen. In other words, each quart (or liter) of water contains only a few drops with deuterium [R<\/a>, R<\/a>].<\/p>\n Deuterium-depleted water (DDW), in comparison, contains 1-120 ppm of deuterium<\/b> [R<\/a>, R<\/a>, R<\/a>].<\/p>\n In animal and cell-based studies, scientists have examined the potential positive effects of deuterium-depleted water on [R<\/a>, R<\/a>, R<\/a>, R<\/a>]:<\/p>\n Cells exposed to this water were more active, grew faster, and suffered less genetic damage [R<\/a>, R<\/a>, R<\/a>].<\/p>\n Based on studies on bacteria, it might also work by triggering hormesis<\/a> – acting as a mild stressor that increases resilience to bigger stressors and enhances performance. This is still largely speculative, though, as it relies on the response of bacteria, not humans [R<\/a>].<\/p>\n Manufacturers and retailers claim deuterium-depleted water can treat diabetes and high blood pressure, enhance sports performance and strength, and combat the effects of stress and aging. However, solid clinical evidence supports none of these claims.<\/b><\/p>\n Research on deuterium-depleted water (DDW) is scarce. Most health benefits are limited to a couple of animal or cell studies, and we can’t draw solid conclusions from them.<\/p>\n Clinical trials about the anticancer effects of DDW come with major caveats, such as [R<\/a>, R<\/a>, R<\/a>+]:<\/p>\n One team of Hungarian doctors have conducted the majority of clinical and animal trials on DDW and cancer. Some of them are involved in DDW commercial production and marketing, which points to a massive conflict of interest <\/b>[R<\/a>, R<\/a>, R<\/a>, R<\/a>, R<\/a>].<\/p>\n\n
Snapshot<\/span><\/h3>\n
Proponents:<\/h4>\n
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Skeptics:<\/h4>\n
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How Does It Work?<\/span><\/h3>\n
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Health Effects of Deuterium-Depleted Water<\/span><\/h2>\n
Limitations and Caveats<\/span><\/h3>\n
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