Overview

Hydrogen is the most abundant element in the human body. A small fraction of it exists as deuterium (2H), a stable isotope with one extra neutron. While deuterium is naturally occurring and only about 0.0156% of hydrogen in the hydrosphere, its unique mass and bonding properties make it disproportionately disruptive to biological systems.

In this expanded whitepaper, we examine:

• The chemistry of deuterium and its molecular implications
• How modern lifestyles result in elevated internal deuterium
• Mitochondria as key regulators of deuterium dynamics
• 130ppm as a functional threshold for mitochondrial performance
• The role of deuterium-depleted water (DDW) as a corrective
• Applications across clinical conditions and biohacking domains
• Citations to key peer-reviewed studies

The Fundamentals: Biophysical Effects of Deuterium

Deuterium differs from protium (1H) in two primary ways:

• It is twice the mass of protium (2 amu vs. 1 amu)
• It forms stronger, more stable covalent bonds

These changes lead to kinetic isotope effects (KIEs):

• Slower reaction rates when 2H is substituted for 1H
• Altered enzymatic turnover and protein folding
• Disruption of proton transport across mitochondrial membranes