Have you heard of Deuterium Depleted Water (DDW), also referred to as “light water”? 

It is a type of water with a lower concentrations of deuterium, a naturally occurring heavy isotope of hydrogen. While ordinary water contains hydrogen atoms, about 1 in every 6400 hydrogen atoms is deuterium, which has a neutron in addition to the single proton found in regular hydrogen. DDW is typically defined as water with deuterium levels below the natural baseline of approximately 150 ppm (parts per million).

Let’s start with what deuterium is and why you should know about that before we jump into DDW. 

Deuterium is one of the three forms of hydrogen:

1. Protium (the most abundant by far and the lightest), consisting of a proton and an electron.

2. Deuterium (much less abundant than protium but twice as heavy due to the addition of a neutron). 

3. Tritium (a radioactive form of hydrogen with one protein and two neutrons).

In nature, both protium and deuterium combine with oxygen to form water molecules.

Deuterium is not inherently toxic but some scientists believe that elevated levels in the body may interfere with biological processes at the cellular level. Because deuterium is heavier than regular hydrogen, it can alter the structure and function of enzymes, DNA and mitochondrial processes when present in high enough quantities.

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Listen up because this is where it gets really important. 

Deuterium can affect the function of the mitochondria - the energy-producing centers of cells. You have probably heard of mitochondria because it is ALL OVER media right now.

Some researchers hypothesize that lower deuterium levels in the body may enhance mitochondrial efficiency, support cellular repair mechanisms and promote overall metabolic health.

Do I have your attention now?

As in most areas of science, research is still emerging with some early findings and anecdotal reports suggesting that DDW may have the following effects:

• Enhanced cellular energy production

• Slowed aging processes

• Improved immune response

• Increased physical and mental performance

• Potential anti-cancer properties

Most of these claims come from animal studies, small-scale human trials or in vitro research. For instance, some cancer studies have shown slowed tumor growth in animals given DDW but these effects have yet to be fully validated in humans.

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DDW is generally regarded as safe when consumed as part of a daily hydration plan, though there are no long-term human studies confirming its safety or efficacy. It is also much more expensive than regular water, with prices ranging from $10 to $30 per liter, depending on the brand and concentration. The high cost is due to the complex and energy-intensive process, which involves fractional distillation or electrolysis to separate and remove deuterium from regular water. The final product is bottled at various concentrations, with lower deuterium levels being more expensive. Interestingly, there are only a handful of companies worldwide that produce DDW.

But wait…keep in mind that depleting TOO MUCH deuterium in your body could theoretically disrupt essential biological processes. As always, more is NOT better. 

Remember this - depending on where you look, the ideal deuterium level in the body is around 130ppm but I found that it commonly ranges from 112 - 140ppm.  

If you purchase DDW, the company should provide the dilution instructions for various ppm goals. Then, it is up to you to choose your ppm goal blindly (without testing) or have a test done first to determine which dilution strategy you should use.

If you know me, you probably know how much I like testing before making biological changes so you can then quantify your results. If you are going to use DDW, I recommend testing your deuterium levels before you start to get a baseline (yes, there are deuterium test kits which are super easy to purchase and use).

This is certainly a fascinating area of emerging science with potential applications in health, performance and longevity. While there is still much research to be done, especially in non-disease state humans, I believe there will only be more and more interest in this topic in the years to come, especially in the longevity space.

As with any cutting-edge health trend, it's best to consult with a healthcare professional before incorporating DDW into your routine. CONTACT ME if you want me to help you navigate this process AND be sure to check out the eNRG Performance YouTube channel as I will be detailing my DDW experiment with weekly updates.