At the Frontier of
Mitochondrial Science
5th International Congress on Deuterium Depletion · Budapest, Hungary
Anthony Kingston, founder of Yavelle, joined world-leading researchers in Budapest to explore one of the most compelling emerging fields in longevity and cellular health: the science of deuterium depletion and its profound implications for how we understand ageing, energy, and vitality.
Where Science Meets Longevity
The biennial congress brings together oncologists, biochemists, and metabolic scientists to advance the clinical application of deuterium depletion therapy.
In late April 2026, Anthony Kingston travelled to Budapest for the 5th International Congress on Deuterium Depletion, hosted at a venue overlooking the Chain Bridge and the Danube. The two-day congress brought together an international cohort of researchers, clinicians, and wellness practitioners who share a deep interest in what may be one of the most under-explored dimensions of cellular biology: the role of deuterium, a heavier and naturally occurring isotope of hydrogen, in human health, ageing, and disease.
The congress drew leading voices from oncology, metabolic medicine, and mitochondrial biology. Sessions ran from early morning across two days, covering areas including anti-cancer research, diabetes, physical performance, mental health, and longevity. For Anthony, attending was both a deepening of existing knowledge and an opportunity to build direct relationships with the scientists shaping this space.
What if one of the most powerful levers for cellular health has been sitting in plain sight all along, embedded in the water we drink and the air we breathe? That is the question at the heart of deuterium depletion science.
Anthony Kingston, Yavelle · Budapest, April 2026
At Yavelle, curiosity has always been integral to how we approach wellness. We believe that the most meaningful advances in how people feel, age, and recover come not from trends but from science that has been tested, challenged, and refined by serious researchers. Deuterium depletion is exactly that kind of science: rigorous, peer-reviewed, and increasingly relevant to anyone interested in mitochondrial function and longevity.
What Is Deuterium Depletion?
Deuterium is a naturally occurring stable isotope of hydrogen that is roughly twice the weight of ordinary hydrogen. In the right concentrations it is harmless, but research suggests that excess deuterium accumulation, particularly inside mitochondria, may interfere with ATP production, cellular repair, and the body's fundamental energy machinery.
The Mitochondrial Connection
ATP synthase, the nanomotor at the heart of every cell's energy production, is exquisitely sensitive to the mass of the hydrogen isotope moving through it. Excess deuterium slows this motor, reducing cellular energy output and potentially contributing to accelerated ageing and metabolic dysfunction.
Deuterium-Depleted Water
The primary clinical intervention studied at the congress is deuterium-depleted water (DDW): water with a lower ratio of deuterium to standard hydrogen than is found in typical tap or bottled water. Controlled clinical studies across multiple countries have explored its application in oncology, diabetes, and sports performance.
Diet and Metabolic Water
The body produces its own deuterium-depleted water through fat oxidation in the mitochondria. Ketogenic and low-carbohydrate diets, as well as sustained aerobic exercise, appear to support the body's natural capacity to maintain a healthier deuterium balance, a finding with significant implications for everyday wellness practice. Learn more about the benefits of DDW.
Congress Moments
Session 1 · Budapest 2026
Voices That Shaped the Congress
Anthony had the opportunity to connect personally with two of the field's most important researchers: scientists whose decades of work form the scientific foundation for deuterium depletion as a clinical and wellness practice.
Founder of Yavelle and Lumes Biodynamic, Anthony has spent years at the intersection of advanced wellness science and product development. His attendance at the 5th International Congress reflects a continued commitment to grounding Yavelle's approach in the most rigorous, frontier science available.
Dr. Somlyai is the pioneering Hungarian biochemist whose foundational work in the early 1990s first identified deuterium's biological significance in cancer and cellular regulation. As session chair and organiser of the congress, he continues to shape the global direction of this field. His book Deuterium Depletion: A New Way in Curing Cancer and Preserving Health is the field's defining text.
Professor of Pediatrics, Endocrinology and Metabolism at UCLA, Dr. Boros is one of the world's foremost authorities on deuterium as an oncoisotope and its depletion through mitochondrial water exchange. He is the co-inventor of the targeted 13C tracer fate association study platform and has published extensively on the link between metabolic water, deuterium, and cellular transformation.
Science as the Foundation of Everything We Create
The insights from Budapest go far beyond any single product or protocol. What the deuterium depletion field reveals is a deeper truth that has always guided Yavelle: the body has remarkable intelligence, and when we support that intelligence with precision, the results are genuinely transformative.
As we continue to develop our range, we bring this same curiosity and rigour to every decision. Anthony's attendance at the congress is one expression of a broader commitment to staying at the leading edge of what science understands about how we age, recover, and thrive.
We will be sharing more from this area of research in the months ahead, including what it means practically for the way we approach wellness, hydration, and mitochondrial support.
Read More from Our JournalQuestions About Deuterium Depletion
What is deuterium depletion?
Deuterium depletion is the practice of reducing the concentration of deuterium, a naturally occurring heavy isotope of hydrogen, in the body. Deuterium is present in all water and food. Research suggests that excess deuterium accumulation inside mitochondria can interfere with ATP production and cellular energy. Methods to deplete deuterium include drinking deuterium-depleted water (DDW), following a ketogenic diet, and regular aerobic exercise, all of which support the body's natural ability to produce deuterium-depleted metabolic water through fat oxidation.
What is deuterium-depleted water (DDW)?
Deuterium-depleted water is water that has been processed to contain a lower concentration of deuterium than is naturally found in regular tap or bottled water. Standard water contains approximately 150 parts per million (ppm) of deuterium. DDW typically contains between 25ppm and 125ppm. Clinical studies have explored its use in oncology, metabolic disease, anti-ageing, and sports performance. Yavelle's DDW is produced at 25ppm, one of the lowest concentrations available.
Who is Dr. László G. Boros?
Dr. László G. Boros is a Professor of Pediatrics, Endocrinology and Metabolism at the UCLA School of Medicine and one of the world's leading researchers on deuterium as an oncoisotope. He is the co-inventor of the targeted 13C tracer fate association study (TTFAS) platform, which studies how mitochondrial water exchange depletes deuterium to prevent cancerous cell transformation. Dr. Boros presented at the 5th International Congress on Deuterium Depletion in Budapest in April 2026, where Yavelle founder Anthony Kingston met with him directly.
Who is Dr. Gábor Somlyai?
Dr. Gábor Somlyai is a Hungarian biochemist and the founding pioneer of deuterium depletion research. He began his research in the early 1990s investigating the role of deuterium in biological and physiological processes and was among the first scientists to demonstrate that deuterium-depleted water could delay tumour progression. He is the author of the field's defining text, Deuterium Depletion: A New Way in Curing Cancer and Preserving Health, and serves as organiser of the International Congress on Deuterium Depletion held in Budapest.
What is the International Congress on Deuterium Depletion?
The International Congress on Deuterium Depletion is a biennial scientific conference held in Budapest, Hungary, that brings together oncologists, biochemists, metabolic scientists, and wellness researchers from around the world. The congress focuses on advances in deuterium depletion research and its clinical applications including cancer therapy, diabetes, anti-ageing, mental health, and sports performance. The 5th International Congress was held on 22 and 23 April 2026. More information is available at deuteriumdepletion.com.
Why did Yavelle attend the Deuterium Depletion Congress?
Yavelle founder Anthony Kingston attended the 5th International Congress on Deuterium Depletion in Budapest in April 2026 to deepen Yavelle's understanding of the science underpinning deuterium-depleted water and to build direct relationships with the leading researchers in this field. Yavelle produces DDW at 25ppm and is committed to grounding its products in rigorous, peer-reviewed science rather than wellness trends.
How does deuterium depletion relate to mitochondrial health?
Mitochondria produce energy through ATP synthase, a nanomotor that is highly sensitive to the mass of hydrogen isotopes passing through it. When deuterium, which is twice the mass of ordinary hydrogen, is present in excess, it can slow this motor and impair energy production. Research presented at the International Congress on Deuterium Depletion suggests that maintaining lower deuterium levels supports more efficient mitochondrial function, which has downstream implications for energy, ageing, metabolic health, and cellular repair.