Frequently Asked Questions

Molecular hydrogen (H₂) is a natural nutrient, not a treatment. Gut bacteria already run their own hydrogen cycle, and hydrogen works like a currency passed between them, which we call “gut economics” for short; the H₂ capsule (HRCC) simply adds to that supply. HOHO products are registered as foods in several countries: 3 food registrations in Taiwan and 1 each with the US FDA, Health Canada and the UK FSA. Canada led the way with a launch in August 2026 through our Canadian partner (science page: www.h2coral.com/research/index.html), and other countries are following step by step.

No. It is a nutritional supplement, in the same family as the natural molecules our bodies already use every day, such as oxygen and nitric oxide. In Taiwan it is registered as a food and is offered at medical centers as a self-pay nutrition prescription.

No. If you are ill, please see your doctor; molecular hydrogen is a natural nutrient and cannot replace medicine. In the human studies run at medical centers, patients kept their existing medication and treatment unchanged, with H₂ capsules used concurrently as an adjuvant. All our cell, animal and human studies follow this approach: every existing drug and treatment stays unchanged, and the only difference is the addition of HRCC powder, or capsules containing HRCC powder, which we call H₂ capsules. In total we have published 37 papers.

HOHO was founded in 2017 and received its first Taiwan food registration in 2020; it now holds 3. Our products are available through more than 200 medical-channel locations in Taiwan, and our research partners have published 37 papers.

Yes. Our physicians, pharmacists and engineers co-wrote a book on hydrogen molecular medicine (《氫分子醫學聖經》). It is currently published in Traditional Chinese and sold through major online bookstores in Taiwan.

We welcome pharmaceutical partnerships (using HRCC as an adjuvant alongside oral drugs), defense and government procurement, and distribution partnerships. Please contact our founder directly through the contact form.

Molecular hydrogen is a natural nutrient, not a treatment. Ageing can be pictured as the body slowly rusting. Hydrogen is the smallest molecule, able to reach everywhere in the body, and research describes it as selectively neutralizing the most harmful type of free radical.

Molecular hydrogen is a natural nutrient, not a treatment. Like oxygen, it is a basic molecule used by cells throughout the body. Natural nutrients usually play many roles, just as supplementing nutrients supports the body in many ways. This is not a treatment effect of the nutrient: once the body gets the nutrients it needs, it naturally has the resources to repair itself. That is why molecular hydrogen is not aimed at one organ, and why research naturally spans many fields. We do not overstate it: research describes two roles, neutralizing the most harmful free radicals and supporting the hydrogen cycle of gut bacteria.

Hydrogen is the smallest molecule in the universe. It dissolves in both water and fat, a rare property scientists call amphiphilic, so it can pass through cell membranes and reach mitochondria and the brain.

Yes. Hydrogen makes up about 10% of body weight, and gut bacteria produce hydrogen gas every day. Our “gut economy” education video explains how this works.

Molecular hydrogen is a natural nutrient, not a treatment. Research describes hydrogen as selective: it reacts with the most harmful radicals and leaves useful signaling molecules such as nitric oxide alone.

Hydrogen was discovered in 1766. In 2007, a Japanese study reported that hydrogen selectively neutralizes the most harmful free radicals. It was published in Nature Medicine, one of the world’s leading medical journals, and research spread worldwide after that. Today many physicians in Taiwan are also studying it.

In Taiwan, hydrogen capsules are regulated as food and must hold a food registration from the Ministry of Health and Welfare. Hydrogen-gas and hydrogen-water machines are regulated as household appliances and must pass electrical safety inspection.

In Japan, hydrogen (suiso) has been studied in drinking water for over 30 years and in inhalation for over 15 years. The number of hydrogen capsule products shown at a major Tokyo health expo fell from more than 50 in 2018 to six or seven in 2026. HOHO chose a medical-standard path instead: safety first, human studies, published research. We see Taiwan’s HRCC technology as a leader in this field.

Hospitals in Japan, China, the US and Taiwan all study hydrogen. Japan once listed 2% hydrogen inhalation under its Advanced Medical Care B program in 2016, but it was withdrawn after the study ended; in 2020 China approved a hydrogen-oxygen nebulizer as a medical device, not hydrogen as a medical gas. Research since a 1975 paper in Science spans 50 years, yet few countries offer hydrogen as a nutrition prescription; Taiwan is one of them.

Molecular hydrogen is a natural nutrient, not a treatment. If ageing is like the body rusting, hydrogen is a daily nutrient that addresses the most harmful kind of rust. Healthy ageing still comes down to good sleep, good food and regular exercise; hydrogen is one part of a steady foundation.

Molecular hydrogen is a natural nutrient, not a treatment. The clinical studies we have published in medical journals focus mainly on rheumatology and immunology, metabolism and nephrology, with patients mainly related to autoimmune disease, infection and cancer. Throughout these studies, no medication or treatment was changed; H₂ capsules (HRCC) were simply added as a nutritional supplement, serving as an adjuvant to the overall treatment. We have not yet published research on sarcopenia, and we will share it here once further results are available.

Molecular hydrogen is a natural nutrient, not a treatment. Put simply, the capsule supplies hydrogen to the hydrogen cycle that gut bacteria already use, which we call “gut economics” for short. Hydrogen is stored in the tiny pores of coral calcium powder; on contact with water, capillary action slowly pushes it out, and lab tests observed release over a full day (24 hours).

Coral powder works like a sponge, holding hydrogen in its tiny pores. When it meets water, capillary action slowly squeezes the hydrogen out, and a blend of large, medium and small particles keeps the release steady for 24 hours. No chemical reaction is involved, only the storage and release of a nutrient, and the release curve has been published in a medical journal.

Close to 70% of coral is made of tiny pores, and it is rich in minerals, which makes it an excellent natural carrier for hydrogen. Coral calcium is known as the “diamond of the sea” and is recorded in the classic Chinese text Bencao Gangmu (Compendium of Materia Medica). Our team takes it every day, and each capsule also provides dozens of minerals and trace elements.

When the capsule powder is placed in water, continuous hydrogen release can be measured for more than 24 hours. This result has been published in several peer-reviewed medical journals.

Hydrogen tablets are dropped into water, where a chemical reaction releases hydrogen bubbles to make drinkable hydrogen water. The H₂ capsule (HRCC) is swallowed and releases hydrogen steadily with no chemical reaction. The two use different technologies and different routes; our capsule’s 24-hour release curve was measured in vitro and published in a medical journal.

Our published research has compared them: hydrogen water delivers a high concentration all at once, while the H₂ capsule offers 24-hour controlled release. Capsules, hydrogen water and inhalation are like land, sea and air forces, with different routes and roles rather than competitors. We respect all three and see them as complementary.

Inhalation delivers a high concentration over a short time, while the H₂ capsule releases hydrogen slowly over 24 hours. The routes and roles differ, so they are not directly comparable. You can choose based on your budget or combine them.

Hydrogen water machines, inhalers and capsules each have their own role, so there is no need to rank them. Research brings standards, and standards bring choice: decide based on how much published medical research matters to you and on your budget. Like any nutrient, hydrogen is meant to be part of everyday life.

For general daily use, or alongside medication and treatment, 1–2 capsules a day is enough; most of our 37 published papers used 1–2 a day as an adjuvant. Adults over 50 or those wanting more active daily support may take 3–4 a day. People facing acute or severe conditions often have weaker digestive absorption, so 4–6 capsules a day is suggested. If you take 4 or more, split them between morning and bedtime.

The simplest way is one capsule on an empty stomach after waking up. If you take four or more, split them between morning and bedtime; before or after meals are both fine. What matters is making it part of everyday life.

Yes, just as older adults eat vegetables every day. Absorption tends to decline with age, so we suggest 3–4 capsules a day; with 4, take 2 in the morning and 2 at bedtime.

Molecular hydrogen is a natural nutrient, not a treatment, and everyone is different. In the hospital clinical studies, capsules were taken for one to three months. We suggest taking them consistently as part of your daily routine rather than looking for a quick change.

Molecular hydrogen is a natural nutrient, not a treatment. Yes, you can take it with meals and medication; in the human studies at medical centers it was always used alongside existing medication. If your medicine label says not to take it with calcium or milk, take the capsule two hours apart from that medicine. Always follow your doctor’s instructions for your medication.

No. Coffee is a food and the capsule is a natural nutrient, so you can take them together, before or after meals. In our clinical studies, H₂ capsules were used concurrently as an adjuvant with diet, medication and treatment unchanged, so they are designed to fit everyday life.

Yes, they go well together. Think of the gut as an economy in which hydrogen is the currency passed between beneficial bacteria; taking H₂ capsules alongside probiotics is like giving those bacteria pocket money.

You can take them together, but they do not replace each other. Hydrogen targets the most harmful type of free radical, while vitamins C and E each have their own roles, so there is no conflict.

It varies: digestive transit time differs from person to person. You can adjust your timing based on your physician’s advice or your own routine.

Molecular hydrogen is a natural nutrient, not a treatment. Many people with very active lifestyles, including extreme-sport athletes, take it. Research describes hydrogen as selective: it reacts with the most harmful radicals and leaves the useful signals the body produces during exercise alone. That is exactly why we designed the H₂ capsule into a special-forces ration kit.

Molecular hydrogen is a natural nutrient, not a treatment. Many of our partners have medical backgrounds and know shift work first-hand. The HRCC technology locks hydrogen in coral calcium powder and releases it on contact with water for more than 24 hours; we suggest one capsule before your shift and one before sleep, before or after meals. Sleep, diet and exercise remain the foundation. In May 2026, Taiwan’s Ministry of Economic Affairs held a press conference introducing our special-forces H₂ capsule ration; special forces often work through the night on long missions, much like night-shift workers (MOEA press release: www.moea.gov.tw/Mns/populace/news/News.aspx?kind=1&menu_id=40&news_id=122738).

No. The brown color is the vitamin C inside reacting to moisture, and it is there by design. The capsule releases hydrogen on contact with water, so we added vitamin C as a visible moisture cue. Many people who take our capsules are critically ill patients in medical-center intensive care units, whose bodies are fragile, so we wanted doctors and nurses to be able to spot moisture exposure with their own eyes. It is one extra quality check, a small detail where our science serves patient care. The color is a moisture cue, not a measurement of hydrogen content. A discolored capsule that is intact, has no unusual odor, and is within its expiry date is fine to take. If a capsule is damaged, smells unusual, or is past its expiry date, do not take it and contact us first. In humid seasons especially, reseal the foil bag after each use.

Keep it in a cool, dry place and reseal the foil bag after each use. The desiccant mainly protects unopened capsules, so finish an opened bag as soon as practical.

It is safe. Hydrogen only burns when a large amount builds up, mixes with oxygen above 4% concentration and meets an ignition source. HRCC technology locks hydrogen in coral powder and releases it slowly only on contact with water, designed for use in medical settings. Safety has always been our first principle.

Molecular hydrogen is a natural nutrient, not a treatment. Thousands of hydrogen studies have not reported toxicity, and hydrogen ends up as water. Our capsules are made through GMP-compliant, scalable production, hold Taiwan food registrations and are used as a nutrition prescription at medical centers. When choosing any product, check for GMP manufacturing and a government registration.

The most important are product registrations that allow legal sale: 3 food registrations in Taiwan and 1 each with the US FDA, Health Canada and the UK FSA. We also have a US patent application and an international patent (PCT). People who ask about certification usually want to know whether a product is safe and science-based, and a few simple benchmarks help: more than 10 published medical papers covering cell, animal and human studies (cells are very fragile, so anything toxic shows up in cell studies); production in a GMP facility; product liability insurance of NT$50 million or more; and sales through many medical channels, such as medical centers, regional hospitals, clinics, Chinese medicine clinics, well-known pharmacy chains and independent pharmacies, with at least 100 locations. The HOHO medical research network has published 37 papers, and HOHO products are sold through more than 200 medical-channel locations in Taiwan.

Our capsules are produced through GMP-compliant, scalable production, and every batch is tested before shipment. The capsule and HRCC (hydrogen-rich coral calcium powder) are the subject of 37 published cell, animal and human studies, and are sold through more than 200 medical-channel locations in Taiwan.

We don’t comment on other companies’ technology, but we follow a simple order: research, standards, choice. Look for GMP manufacturing, a government registration, ideally more than 10 published medical papers covering cell, animal and human studies, and sales through medical channels, preferably at more than 100 locations. A higher product liability insurance amount also reflects a company’s confidence in its product and its commitment to consumers. For our part: GMP manufacturing, Taiwan food registrations, 37 published papers covering cell, animal and human studies, and more than 200 medical-channel locations in Taiwan.

Molecular hydrogen is a natural nutrient, not a treatment. Medical center teams across northern, central and southern Taiwan have published 37 papers, covering cell, animal and human research. In the human studies, H₂ capsules were used concurrently as an adjuvant alongside existing medication and treatment, as nutritional support rather than a replacement for care.

Our partner hospitals in Taiwan and abroad are covered by confidentiality agreements, so we do not list them one by one. The 37 published papers publicly involve physician teams from northern, central and southern Taiwan and the United States, with more than 30 physicians, professors and researchers named, and the team keeps growing.

Molecular hydrogen is a natural nutrient, not a treatment. Yes: animal studies used coral calcium without hydrogen as the control, and human research includes an untreated control group as well as a dose study registered in the United States.

Yes. The H₂ capsule is available as a self-pay nutrition prescription item at medical centers and other hospitals, across all departments; physicians can order it from the self-pay item list.

Molecular hydrogen is a natural nutrient, not a treatment. HOHO has no clinical studies in pets yet; the most relevant animal studies are two mouse studies (see 7.4, items 1 and 2). Further reading: the pet chapter of The Bible of Molecular Hydrogen Medicine (2022) (link).

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One capsule a day. Open the capsule and mix the powder into your pet’s food. Watch the demonstration video (link).

Have a specific question? Send it through our contact form and we’ll get back to you.

Yes. A cat had three blood tests while taking the H₂ capsule daily. Its creatinine (Cre), a kidney marker, was 3.3, 1.5 and 1.3 mg/dL in August 2025, April 2026 and August 2026 (the veterinary clinic’s reference range is 0.4–2.5 mg/dL). This is a single case record and does not indicate a treatment effect. See the before-and-after data, with personal details removed (link).

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The HOHO team has published 37 papers in international medical journals (link). Those related to the kidneys include:

1. Animal study in mice, team led by Superintendent Liang-Miin Tsai, Tainan Municipal Hospital (Antioxidants 2022) (link)
2. Renal fibrosis mouse model, first author Dr. Tsai-Kun Wu (Eur J Pharmacol 2025) (link)
3. Case report from Tri-Service General Hospital: HRCC as an adjuvant in an older adult with diabetic kidney disease (In Vivo 2025) (link)
4. Review of molecular hydrogen and oxidative stress in chronic kidney disease, corresponding author Prof. Kuo-Cheng Lu (Biomed Pharmacother 2024) (link)
5. Review of molecular hydrogen and uremic bone disease in chronic kidney disease, first author Dr. Po-Jen Hsiao, with Prof. Kuo-Cheng Lu (Antioxidants 2026) (link)

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