Download The Most Common Questions about Activated Oxygen

The Most Common Questions
about Activated Oxygen:
WHAT IS ACTIVATED OR “STABILIZED” OXYGEN?
The current literature explains that dietary supplements (nutritional products)
featuring oxygen can contain either dissolved molecules of oxygen, (in various
molecular configurations including O1, O2, O3, O4, etc.) and/or bio-available oxygen
molecules electrically bound to numerous non-toxic salts. (These salts include magnesium,
potassium, sodium, etc.) The important distinction between these supplements is that these
different compounds must be comprised of oxygen-salt molecular bonds that are easily
weakened by the body.
Once weakened or broken, these molecular compounds release their oxygen atoms that the
oxygen may be absorbed into the blood stream. The literature further explains that such oxygen
com-pounds or formulations may be both in liquid and/or dry form provided that in such dry
form the oxygen molecules may also be easily and readily made available to the body.
It is our understanding that the U.S. F.T.C., which governs United States interstate advertising in
various media, has indicated that the use of the word “stabilized” may not be used to describe
any consumer oxygen-based dietary supplement unless that product contains hydrogen
peroxide or ozone (O3) as its primary source of oxygen.
WHAT ARE OXYCHLORINE COMPOUNDS?
Virtually all traditional oxygen supplements and oxygen additives use oxychlorine or
hypo-chloride com-pounds (salts of oxygen) to stabilize (bind) the oxygen molecules
together. These compounds usually include high concentrations of chlorite (chlorine
dioxide/ClO2) as well as chlorate (ClO3).
There is little evidence that indicates that chlorite and chlorate may indeed release oxygen in its
nascent form as O2 into the body as these ions are theoretically broken down into O2 during the
digestive process by hydrochloric acid (HCl) in the stomach. This theory has not been
scientifically proven.
Unlike the traditional approaches to oxygen supplementation, BIO2's Activated Oxygen is based
on the dissolved molecular oxygen (as O2) formulation instead of salts of oxygen formulations. In
our proprietary manufacturing processes, BIO2 creates molecules rather than bonding oxygen
molecules to various salts. This process is a completely unique and a totally different approach
to creating a safe yet effective Activated Oxygen supplement than all other oxygen
supplements on the market today.
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WHY IS THIS DIFFERENCE SO IMPORTANT?
The chemical components in BIO2's Activated Oxygen are distilled water, sodium
chloride, dissolved oxygen and essential and trace minerals. The species of oxygen
found in Activated Oxygen include O2, and O4. The active ingredient in BIO2's Activated Oxygen
is a relatively stable nascent molecule of oxygen in the form of O4. All other liquid oxygen
supplements bond their active oxygen to salt molecules forming oxychlorine or oxy-halogen
compounds driving up the pH to levels that could be dangerous to the skin and delicate
membranes in the oral cavity if taken improperly. In addition, additional stomach acid activity is
required to break these molecules down to release the oxygen.
As a result of BIO2's proprietary manufacturing process, BIO2 is able to significantly increase the
amount of active oxygen while significantly decreasing the pH, making the solution both more
concentrated and safer for the consumer to use. These two facts alone (oxygen content and
pH) distinguish BIO2's Activated Oxygen from the competition and set BIO2's Activated Oxygen
apart as the premier and safest of all liquid stabilized oxygen supplements and additives.
IS SODIUM CHLORITE A REGULATED
SUBSTANCE?
Sodium chlorite (NaClO2), the traditional ingredient in almost all oxygen
supplementation today, is considered a non-toxic substance approved by the F.D.A. as a
bleaching agent for modified food starch under 21 C.F.R. 172.892 with very rigid and very
specific guidelines for its use. It is not recognized nor approved as a dietary supplement! The
F.D.A. has established a sodium chlorite level of .5% (or 5,000 ppm) as the maximum allowed for
human consumption in food products. BIO2's Activated Oxygen contains NO CHLORITE
MOLECULES
The chlorite concentrations for all other competitive stabilized oxygen products exceed the
F.D.A.'s established limits. This does not infer that these higher concentrations of sodium chlorite
are toxic or unsafe. It does mean however that these concentrations exceed the approved
F.D.A. limits and as such may be in violation of F.D.A. regulations under 21 C.F.R. 172.892.
Independent analysis of BIO2's Activated Oxygen by Pace Labs, Chemtech Labs, Western
Analytical Labs and U.S.A.N.A. Labs indicates that no substances with levels high enough to
indicate toxicity to human beings exists in BIO2's Activated Oxygen. Toxic metals, including lead,
mercury and arsenic, are undetectable. Nitrate levels and other trace minerals are also
undetectable by all normal testing standards. The current formulation of BIO2's Activated
Oxygen has been found to be "...totally safe to the human body." (Lab assays and analysis of
BIO2's Activated Oxygen are available upon request.)
Sodium chlorite, in high concentrations, is considered potentially dangerous to the body. W.J.
Masschelin and Rip G. Rice, in their authoritative research on chlorine dioxide in "Chlorine
Dioxide: Chemistry and Environmental Impact of Oxychlorine Compounds" state that the body
does have a maximum toxic tolerance for ClO2. In fact they state that their conclusive tests
indicate that "Chlorite enables the rapid formation of methmoglobin in solutions of hemoglobin.
The 50% lethal dose (LD50) for rats is 140 mg/kg."
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Thus, the equivalent LD50 chlorite ratio in a 180-pound man is 55.56 mg of chlorite. Several
competitive products contain as high as 41,000 mg/L of chlorite. Based on these companies’
recommended daily dosage of 45 drops, this would equate to a daily intake of over 92 mg of
chlorite, clearly in excess of the LD50 warnings.
Massachelin and Rice also discussed research completed on sodium chlorite's efficacy as a
disinfectant for contaminated water. They determined from their research that "For drinking
water, the maximum residual concentration releasing no objectionable taste or odor is
described as 0.4 to 0.5 mg/l. It also appears that this is below the maximum safe limit considered
from the toxicological viewpoint. According to observations, doses up to 5 mg/l tested on rats
gave no serological toxicity. In Belgium, the maximum allowed concentration in drinking water
distributed by public services is 0.25 mg/l"
In summary, the FDA considers chlorine dioxide a regulated substance. It is approved as a
modified food-bleaching agent, primarily for flour. It is not approved, nor is it recommended, for
human consumption as a dietary supplement. The E.P.A. has not approved chlorine dioxide as a
disinfecting agent for water for consumer use. The use of chlorine dioxide (chlorite) for either of
these applications (water purification and nutritional supplementation) is clearly unapproved
and not recommended by the appropriate U.S. federal regulating agencies.
HOW MUCH OXYGEN CAN BE DISSOLVED
IN WATER?
First let's take a quick look at how nascent oxygen in the form of O2 reacts with
water. Water will only absorb a maximum of 20 ppm of free oxygen molecules in gas form (O2)
when such molecules are bubbled through the solution. This is a chemically verified fact.
When water is subjected to additional atmospheric pressure, the amount of dissolved O2 may
increase. However, when the pressure is reduced back to its normal atmospheric range, the gas
will escape as O2 and the dissolved oxygen content will stabilize at a "normal" dissolved oxygen
range of from 4-20 ppm.
Temperature can also affect the ability of water to maintain a high level of dissolved oxygen
molecules. As water reaches the boiling point, the O2 molecules will be forced out as O2 in its
gaseous state. At the lower temperatures, below freezing, the oxygen molecules may be
trapped inside the ice crystals that form. Nevertheless, the maximum amount of dissolved
oxygen is strictly related to water's ability to maintain no more than approximately 20 ppm of O2
at normal temperatures at normal atmospheric pressure.
DOES ASO® CONTAIN BIOAVAILABLE OXYGEN IN
CONCENTRATIONS THOUSANDS OF TIMES
GREATER THAN BOTTLED WATER?
While BIO2's Activated Oxygen does have as its primary active ingredients dissolved oxygen
molecules in water in the form of O4, these molecules are not "forced" into our solution under
pressure nor bubbled through the solution to enhance absorption. Rather, the O2 molecules in
BIO2's Activated Oxygen are "created" from the actual solution itself and are stabilized using our
proprietary techniques. Thus, the O4 molecules in our solution are not dissolved in our aqueous
solution in the traditional sense. This is why we are able to stabilize O4, something no other
company has been able to accomplish.
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Again, it is extremely important to point out that our Activated Oxygen solution differs greatly
from ALL OTHER oxygen liquid supplements because BIO2's Activated Oxygen is based on
dissolved oxygen not on oxychlorine or other oxygen-based compounds.
HOW STABLE IS ASO®?
A tremendous amount of research has been done on the physiological benefits of
the different species of oxygen in the body. O1 (singlet or molecular oxygen) is the
most highly oxidative and unstable of all the oxygen species. If used improperly, machines that
produce O1 can oxidize and actually permanently "burn" the delicate tissues of the lungs. We do
not recommend any therapies that utilize the use of O1 atoms.
O2 is certainly the most universally recognized of the stable oxygen species. It is the basis of all
life and is found in the air we breathe and the water we drink. O3 (ozone) is also unstable, but its
half-life is considerably longer than that of its sibling O1. (O3 is estimated at having a 22-minute
half-life in water.) O3 is also very reactive (oxidative) and has been successfully used in numerous
therapy protocols. All three species can and do oxidize (destroy) pathogens.
BIO2’s ASO® Activated Oxygen formula containing high concentrations of O4 is considerably less
unstable than solutions containing diatomic oxygen (O2) and ozone (O3). Preliminary research
indicates a stability factor more than four times that of dissolved O2. The shelf life of Activated
Oxygen is two years.
WHY IS pH IMPORTANT IN SELECTING AN
OXYGEN SUPPLEMENT?
“pH” is a measurement of a solution’s alkalinity or acidity. It is measured on a 14 point
scale with “1” representing the most acidic solution and 14 representing the most caustic
alkaline solution. Water is considered “neutral” and falls at the mid-point or “7” on the pH scale.
Acids are compounds like citric acid (from fruits like lemons and oranges,) acetic acid (vinegars
from grapes or other fruits,) and hydrochloric (stomach acid). Alkaline solutions include laundry
bleach (sodium hypochlorite) and sodium hydroxide. At the extremes of each of the pH range
are substances that are extremely dangerous and have substantial “oxidizing” potential.
“Oxidation” is a term that refers to an atom’s or molecule’s ability to bond with other substances
and in the process borrow or permanently take away electrons forming a new molecule and
compound. Atoms of chlorine, fluorine, bromine, and iodine can be more dangerous and more
reactive oxidizing agents than oxygen.
BIO2's Activated Oxygen is very slightly alkaline at a pH of about 8.6. This is a perfect pH for
internal and external use. All other oxygen supplements should be considered highly toxic
and/or caustic because their pH values are normally in excess of 10.0 making them very alkaline.
This is why BIO2's Activated Oxygen is so very unique in the field of oxygen supplements.
Almost all other oxygen supplements sold today are based on oxychlorine compounds
(molecules containing chlorine and oxygen usually forming chlorite/chlorine dioxide or
chlorate). BIO2's Activated Oxygen contains no sodium chlorite.
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Oxychlorine substances, as well as high levels of sodium, result in a high pH value. Since the
actual active ingredients in BIO2's Activated Oxygen are dissolved O2 and O4 and a very low
sodium concentration, BIO2's Activated Oxygen is a more neutrally balanced solution.
In order for the body to neutralize the high pH concentrations of chlorite found in other products,
the body is required to manufacture and release higher concentrations of hydrochloric acid
(HCl) in the stomach. Current theory holds that the HCl reacts with the chlorite ion to create a
chlorine (Cl) and diatomic oxygen molecules (O2). It is only when this reaction occurs that the
O2 can be theoretically absorbed into the blood stream, primarily through the stomach lining.
However, it should be pointed out that there is no research that indicates that this process
actually takes place.
A number of physiological dangers are possible when significant amounts of chlorite are present.
First, if the chlorite has not been adequately diluted in water before being consumed, chlorite
molecules can damage (burn or “oxidize”) sensitive membranes in the oral and esophageal
cavities. Second, undiluted or improperly diluted chlorite can burn or damage the lining of the
stomach before the stomach has a chance to begin the neutralization process. Third,
individuals who have problems secreting sufficient amounts of HCl may find that they may have
irritated or damaged the lining of the stomach. Fourth, the high pH concentration of the
chlorites may cause the stomach to overproduce HCl in an attempt to neutralize the substance
causing an irritation to the stomach. Prolonged usage of chlorite-based supplements may
severely damage the stomach lining
Almost every stabilized oxygen manufacturer warns the consumer to thoroughly mix and dilute
these products in water before taking the products internally. Most also warn that their products
should never be used topically. This is because of high pH skin toxicity.
Remarkably, BIO2's Activated Oxygen may be taken internally in its concentrated or diluted
form and may also be used topically if desired. BIO2's Activated Oxygen is the only oxygen
supplement that can be used in this manner.
WHAT IS THE EFFECT OF ACTIVATED OXYGEN
ON MICROORGANISMS?
BIO2's Activated Oxygen has been clearly shown to have extensive anti-microbial
properties in direct proportion to concentration and time. BIO2's Activated Oxygen appears to
inhibit the growth or to reduce the colony count of the following general categories of
anaerobic (non-air tolerant) organisms: bacteria, virus, yeasts, molds, fungi and parasites.
There are both beneficial aerobic and detrimental anaerobic bacteria in the body. For
example, the "good" E. Coli exists in both an anaerobic and aerobic states. But these beneficial
intestinal floras have sufficient safeguards in their cellular structures to protect themselves in
oxygen environments.
All pathogenic microbes give up electrons and die when introduced to oxygen-rich
environments. This has to do with the cellular structure of these organisms. In the body, invading
pathogens are normally attacked by specialized white blood cells (neutrophils and
macrophages). These cells -- forming a critical part of the immune system -- attack the surface
of the bacteria in a process called opsonization or phagocytosis. During this process the
microbes are surrounded by hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) formed within the white blood cells from
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oxygen and water. The H2O2 breaks down as it reacts with the bacteria's cellular structure into
water H2O and O1 and the oxygen atom begins oxidizing the cell's membrane (stealing
electrons). This is the primary "line of defense" used by the immune system.
These specialized cells manufacture the H2O2 from water and oxygen available in the blood
stream. A lack of sufficient oxygen in the blood stream reduces the body's first line of defense.
This has been clearly established in the medical literature. Activated Oxygen safely increases the
available oxygen levels of the blood stream.
HOW MUCH NUTRITIONAL SODIUM AND
CHLORIDE IS IN ASO®?
One daily recommended dose of BIO2's Activated Oxygen (45 drops), taken in three
doses of 15 drops in 8 ounces of water each day, would contain less than 5 mg of sodium -- and
sodium is the big culprit in increasing blood pressure. That's why patients with high blood pressure
have to watch and monitor their sodium intake. 5 mg is an insignificant amount of sodium. By
comparison, one bowl of a popular rice cereal contains over 300 mg of sodium.
HOW DOES ACTIVATED OXYGEN GET
INTO THE BODY?
There appears to be ample supportive scientific evidence that dissolved oxygen in a
liquid supplement form can be absorbed either sublingually into the blood stream or may pass
directly through the stomach lining into the blood plasma.
Research has clearly shown (Dr. Arthur Guyton, M.D.) that the blood plasma contains
approximately 3% dissolved oxygen; the red blood cells (hemoglobin) hold the remaining 97% in
a completely healthy and well-oxygenated individual. Oxygen passes out of the red blood cells
and into the plasma to be transferred to the cells that need oxygen for the metabolic process.
These cells then pass CO2 back into the plasma that is picked up by the red blood cells in the
exchange. Oxygen is almost always present in the plasma as it travels though the body.
Research conducted on BIO2's Activated Oxygen by Suntory International of Japan indicates
that there is a direct and long-lasting correlation between the consumption of BIO2's stabilized
oxygen and an increased partial pressure of oxygen in arterial blood.
The Duke University study, completed in March of 1996, indicates clearly, for the first time, the
actual mechanisms by which oxygen is transported in the blood directly to the tissues and how
oxygen is released and acquired by the blood through both the lungs and the plasma. The
combination of these two studies implies that BIO2's Activated Oxygen, when taken orally, is
absorbed into the blood stream where it is transported directly to the tissues.
CAN ACTIVATED OXYGEN BE TAKEN WITH
OTHER SUPPLEMENTS?
We do know that when BIO2's Activated Oxygen is taken with food that some of the
bio-available oxygen may be consumed (utilized) in oxidizing the food instead of being
absorbed into the blood stream. How much? We have no data at this time to answer this
question more specifically. A great deal depends on how much food and what type of food is
consumed with BIO2's Activated Oxygen.
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Activated Oxygen may be taken with other nutritional supplements. In fact, it may be safe to
assume that Activated Oxygen may even increase the efficacy of such supplements. Since
absorption and assimilation of nutrients at a cellular level requires energy, and since energy
production is directly related to the availability and utilization of oxygen, it stands to reason that
Activated Oxygen may positively affect this process.
We recommend that BIO2's Activated Oxygen be taken on an empty stomach, preferably 30
minutes before eating and two hours after eating to get the greatest physiological benefits from
the product.
BIO2's Activated Oxygen works hand-in-hand with all other nutrients, including amino acids,
minerals and vitamins. These all require oxygen to be assimilated into the body and oxygen to
become integrally involved in the metabolic processes. The higher the oxygen saturation level in
the blood and tissues, the more efficient and effective the metabolic processes will be as these
processes utilize other nutritional ingredients.
WHAT IS THE CHLORINE "SMELL" IN ACTIVATED
OXYGEN?
The standard method for testing for free chlorine uses DPD test tablets that react with
various forms of natural oxidizing agents as well as any free chlorine in water. These oxidizers
include: ozone, chlorite, chlorate, hypochlorus acid, hypochloric acid, bromine and iodine.
The presence of any of these compounds in water will react with the DPD test tablets or other
free chlorine test solution kits and will indicate an incorrect reading of the free chlorine levels.
BIO2's Activated Oxygen contains ozone, a very small amount of chlorate and a trace level of
iodine and bromine. Thus, tests using the above methods will indicate levels of free chlorine that
are inaccurate.
BIO2's Activated Oxygen is also processed using activated charcoal filters that eliminate any
and all trace amounts of free chlorine that might be in the solution. As our assays reveal, BIO2's
Activated Oxygen contains sodium chloride (NaCl) and during the manufacturing process these
atoms are separated into Na+ and Cl- ions.
We are more sensitive to the "smell" of Cl- just as we are more sensitive to the "taste" of Na+.
Again, chlorine gas (Cl2) is not a by-product of BIO2's stabilized oxygen reacting in the blood
stream, digestive system or on the skin. We can, however, detect the smell of Cl- (chloride ions)
as the Cl- ions evaporate with the ozone (O3) in BIO2's Activated Oxygen when it is placed in
water, on the skin or in the mouth.
IS ACTIVATED OXYGEN RESPONSIBLE
FOR ANY DETRIMENTAL OXYGEN
FREE-RADICAL PRODUCTION?
The scientific literature clearly indicates that most free radicals are formed as a natural part of
the body's normal metabolic activity in producing the energy the body needs to "exist" and
sustain itself. Breathing is the major source (contributor) of free radicals, yet without breathing,
the body dies.
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Almost all free radicals produced during the energy-production cycle are reduced to water.
Some are used to fight against invading bacteria and viruses. Some, the result of contaminates
like smoke, pollution, alcohol, ozone, radiation and highly processed foods, are very damaging
to the body.
Natural nutrient antioxidants (vitamins, amino acids and minerals) occurring in the foods we eat
are designed to control the production of these deleterious free radicals. It is important to
remember that the research clearly shows that diatomic oxygen (O2) is essential for a healthy
body and that an abundant supply of oxygen helps reduce free radical activity, not increase it!
WITH REFERENCE TO AIR TRAVEL, IS THERE
REALLY ANY TRUTH TO OXYGEN DEPRIVATION
AT HIGHER ALTITUDES?
For years, we have known that air travel puts our immune systems at risk. As the safety of air
travel improves with each new generation of aircraft designs, what never seems to improve is
the quality of the air inside these engineering marvels. Research indicates that not only is
the level of oxygen available to the passengers lower than normal (21.5% versus sometimes less
than 19%!), but re-circulating air disperses airborne pathogens from one end of the plane to the
other, minute by minute for hours at a time.
Poor air quality results in fatigue, jet lag, lower mental acuity, respiratory disorders, disorientation
and an increase in viral infections, just to name a few negative affects.
There is a growing body of irrefutable evidence proving that the airlines can help minimize these
“health risk” problems simply by increasing the concentration, quality and availability of cabin
oxygen! Unfortunately, this raises the cost per passenger for every flight. And, with the major
airlines always on the verge of financial disaster, cutting costs to increase profits is a growing
priority.
In addition, multiply the billions of germs spread by one unhealthy individual by 10, 20 or even a
hundred on every flight and you will begin to see the health dangers we unknowingly take every
time we buckle up for a short or transcontinental flight. Actually, having a sick seatmate or sitting
near someone who is sneezing or someone who has the flu may be the flying passenger's
biggest threat. Being trapped in a confined air space puts you at a greater risk of infection,
according to the Fair Air Coalition, a nonprofit advocacy organization run by airline passengers.
In 1995, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) warned travelers they were at risk
of catching tuberculosis if there was an infectious passenger on board during a long flight.
Tuberculosis, which is spread through the air, is a growing problem in the United States, even
though its prevalence has been declining due to the discovery of drugs for remedial treatment.
Many suspect that the reoccurrence of this disease is the direct result of international airline
passenger contamination!
DOES OXYGEN REALLY HELP THE
SKIN TO HEAL?
The use of oxygen is essential for maintaining cellular function and repair. It is
necessary to promote fibroblast (a type of repair cell) proliferation and collagen production,
which is essential in the skin healing process.
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The availability of oxygen to skin tissues plays an important and integral role in the process of skin
recovery. When the skin is damaged, the process of healing begins with the activation of
enzymes and the presence of white blood cells that destroy bacteria. Macrophages, (the white
blood cells that remove debris,) clear the
damaged area of destroyed cellular material. Blood flow to the treated area increases, bringing
nutritive substances, and especially oxygen, to the damaged tissue. Macrophages also
stimulate fibroblasts that secrete collagen, a type of protein that strengthens and heals the
tissues.
WHAT DOES ORP MEAN AND CAN IT BE USED
TO DETERMINE THE DISSOLVED OXYGEN
CONTENT OF ASO®?
ASO® is a pH balanced, oxygen-enriched saline-based solution that is sold as a dietary
supplement. It contains distilled water, sodium chloride and bioavailable polyatomic oxygen
(tetra-oxygen). Unlike dissolved diatomic oxygen (O2) or ozone (O3), ASO®’s oxygen molecules
exhibit unique physical characteristics that are quite different from their related polyatomic
siblings.
Because of ASO®’s unique molecular “electrical” configuration and stability, its presence
cannot be readily detected using standard dissolved oxygen test methods. It can be visually
detected using DPE test tablets and using the Modified Azide-Winkler Test. However, ASO® must
be diluted considerably to use these test kits and reagents which can result in significant margin
of error calculations. Standard DO (dissolved oxygen) meters (and probes) lack sufficient
mechanisms to analyze the electrical potential of O4. Using such devices will result in inaccurate
readings.
The most consistent way to detect the presence and strength of ASO® in solution is to measure
its electrical potential using an oxidation-reduction meter. Such devices are simple to operate
and are extremely accurate to tenths and even hundredths of a millivolt.
Unlike the pH electrode that responds only to hydrogen ion activity, an ORP electrode responds
to chemical reaction activity in which material is converted from one oxidized state to another
through electron transfer. Oxidation Reduction Potential (ORP) is, simply put, an indication of a
solution's ability to oxidize or reduce another solution. It is a ratio of oxidized species to reduced
species in a solution containing both. Some commonly used oxidizers include chlorine, ozone,
bromine, sodium hypochlorite, and hydrogen peroxide. Examples of reductants include sodium
bisulfite (also known as sodium metabisulfite) and sulfur dioxide. The terms "ORP" and "Redox" are
both commonly used and are interchangeable.
WHY IS OXYGEN SO IMPORTANT FOR A
HEALTHY BODY?
Scientists now also agree that oxygen plays a powerful and primary role in our overall
health and well-being. A growing number of researchers have confirmed that the best way to
improve health may be related to the optimum oxygenation of every cell. 80% of all our
metabolic energy production is created by oxygen! The human body is largely composed of
oxygen, so it is no wonder that scientists are now discovering how low levels of oxygen can
disrupt the body’s ability to function correctly.
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All metabolic processes in the body are regulated by oxygen. Our brains process billions of bits
of information each second. Our metabolic processes work to rid our bodies of waste and toxins.
Even our abilities to think, feel and act require oxygen-related energy production.
Oxygen also plays a vital role in proper metabolic functions, blood circulation, and the
assimilation of nutrients, digestion and the elimination of cellular and metabolic wastes. The
oxygen concentration in a healthy human body is approximately three times that of air.
Fortunately, oxygen is the most abundant element on earth comprising nearly 50% of the earth’s
crust and averaging about 20% of dry air in a non-polluted environment.
Sufficient oxygen helps the body in its ability to rebuild itself and maintain a strong and healthy
immune system. You know how important water, vitamins, minerals and enzymes are to your
health and vitality. Although you can actually exist without food for about 40 days, and water
for about seven days, without oxygen, life ceases to exist in only minutes.
WHAT AFFECTS THE BODY’S ABILITY TO OBTAIN
AND UTILIZE OXYGEN FOR MAXIMUM HEALTH?
Diminishing amounts of atmospheric oxygen:
Today, cutting edge researchers believe that even relatively healthy people may have trouble
extracting all of the oxygen that they need from the air. In fact, the air itself is becoming more
and more polluted, making oxygen extraction more difficult. Physiologists understand that
breathing polluted air, or breathing air that contains less oxygen, puts tremendous stress on the
human body. Surprisingly, paleontologists have analyzed the oxygen in air bubbles trapped in
fossilized amber from the Jurassic Era. Their research revealed that the oxygen levels were
significantly higher then than they are today. In fact, many scientists now believe that the
dinosaurs became extinct because of a rapid drop in oxygen and the inability of their respiratory
systems to adapt to this oxygen reduction. If the dinosaurs became extinct because they could
not obtain enough oxygen, is it any wonder that our bodies can suffer as well as our oxygen
supplies become more polluted?
The diet’s role in oxygen shortages:
Eating junk food on a regular basis forces the body to use up more of its oxygen reserves than
usual in order to metabolize the preservatives and what few nutrients may actually be in the
“food”. Complex carbohydrates and raw fruits and vegetables are high in oxygen with as much
as 50% of the weight of these foods made up of oxygen. The percentage of oxygen in fats is less
than 15% while the percentage of oxygen in protein is between 20% and 40%, depending on the
protein’s amino acid profile.
Dense food compounds, such as fats and proteins, are not only low in oxygen content, but also
require extra oxygen from the body to convert them into energy which further depletes the
body's oxygen reserves. Other oxygen-robbing foods include processed sugar, white flour,
alcohol and caffeinated drinks. The body has to divert needed oxygen from primary metabolic
functions, such as heartbeat, blood flow, brain function and immune response, just to oxidize
and metabolize these foods.
Poor nutrition forces the body to expend even more of its precious oxygen reserve to maintain
cellular health, fight off disease by struggling to keep the immune system strong, and to
eliminate the build-up toxins in the body. As this struggle continues, the body slowly loses its
battle and the body’s immune system breaks down and disease conditions begin to take
greater control.
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Stress:
Any excessive stress, including a heavy workload, traumatic or intense events in your life,
prolonged depression and anxiety, can rob the body of huge amounts of its much-needed
oxygen. Emotional stress produces adrenaline and adrenaline-related hormones, requiring the
body to draw on its oxygen reserves for their production and eventual oxidation. Infection also
depletes the body's oxygen, which is used to combat bacteria.
The medical community knows that the lower the body’s oxygen saturation, the greater the risk
of disease, organ failure, brain damage and death. The acceptable “normal” blood oxygen
level is 95% to 100%. When levels fall to 90%, this is a “dangerous” warning sign that an individual
has a significant physiological problem. At 80%, severe hypoxia sets in that can result in damage
to the organs and the brain. Smog, pollution, stress, depression, diseases or medical
complications, prescription medications, changes in diet, eating non-nutritious (junk) foods, poor
nutrition (mineral and vitamin depletion), or living or recreating at higher altitudes can adversely
affect the body’s oxygen levels. Over a prolonged period of time, low oxygen levels can result in
cellular damage, organ malnutrition, increased toxicity and a higher probability of disease
conditions. Maintaining an adequate oxygen level in the body is critical to maintaining overall
health!
Acidity and oxygen reserves:
Individuals with chronically acidic systems also use up oxygen reserves. This can lead to a cycle
of toxin accumulation and oxygen depletion. One way in which the body combats excess
acidity is by trying to neutralize it with oxygen. To do so, it must continually divert oxygen away
from its primary metabolic functions and direct it toward the acidic cells and tissues.
Oxygen shortages and infection:
When body oxygen falls to extremely low levels for prolonged periods of time, the body may
become a breeding ground for harmful bacteria, viruses, fungi, parasites and other infectious
agents. Most of these are anaerobic, meaning they cannot live in an oxygen-rich environment.
Some research indicates that when the oxygen content of the body is within a normal level,
infectious microorganisms have a more difficult time breeding and multiplying. The partial
pressure of oxygen in normal blood should be approximately 97%.
Within each red blood cell are iron-rich hemoglobin molecules. Approximately 97% of the
oxygen carried to the cells is attached to these hemoglobin molecules with 3% of the oxygen
supply dissolved in the blood plasma. When your blood oxygen levels remain low for extended
periods of time, the cells cannot get an adequate and consistent supply of oxygen and they
may have difficulty resisting.
Lack of exercise:
The body responds to exercise by increasing oxygen intake by breathing hard and deeper. This
increase in blood oxygen levels helps the body perform two very important functions. First, the
additional oxygen permits the creation and release of more energy for the exercise. Second, the
increased supply of oxygen is utilized by the body to remove by-product wastes that are the
result of a higher metabolic rate. A sedentary lifestyle can inhibit the removal.
WHAT IS OXYGEN DEBT?
The additional oxygen that must be taken into an athlete’s body after vigorous
exercise to help restore all the body’s systems back to their normal conditions (or
“states”) is called the “oxygen debt”. Usually, labored breathing can only pay this debt back,
which must continue even after exercising has ceased.
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Oxygen debt is directly related to a build up of the metabolic waste product of muscle
contraction known as lactic acid. An accumulation of lactic acid in the muscles creates a need
for hard (increased rapid) breathing and sufficient discomfort (muscle cramping, spasms and
pain). These symptoms indicate the presence of lactic acid in the muscles. An over-abundance
of lactic acid in the muscles can actually interfere with muscle activity. This interference will
continue until equilibrium or “homeostasis” is restored and the lactic acid is eliminated from the
muscles.
Highly trained athletes can have maximal oxygen uptakes that are twice that of average
people, probably owing to a combination of genetics and training. As a result, they are
capable of greater muscular activity without increasing their lactic acid production, and their
oxygen debts are less. It is for these reasons that they do not become short of breath as readily
as untrained individuals.
WHAT IS “SICK BUILDING” SYNDROME?
Sick Building Syndrome (SBS) or Building Related Illness (BRI) are terms that have
recently made it to the forefront of environmental issues, usually as they relate to the
workplace. Energy problems, first encountered in the early 1970s, necessitated a re-evaluation of
construction practices and materials. The effort to reduce dependency on foreign oil resulted in
more energy efficient building practices. Unfortunately, the new buildings were no longer able
to "breathe." As the recirculation of the inside air increased, so did the ever-growing list of
contaminants. Gradually the air has become a breeding ground for a number of maladies
resulting in Sick Building Syndrome.
SBS occurs when building occupants experience acute health and comfort effects that are
apparently related to the time they spend in the building, but in which no specific illness or
cause can be identified. Symptoms associated with SBS include: headaches, nausea, dizziness,
respiratory problems, coughing, wheezing and eye, nose or throat irritations, just to name a few.
Building Related Illness, a more serious condition, is brought on by exposure to the building air
where symptoms of diagnosable illness are identified (e.g. certain allergies or infections) and
can be directly attributed to environmental agents in the air. BRIs account for a 69 percent
increase in requests for investigation by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
over the last fifteen years.
HOW DOES OXYGEN KILL MICROORGANISMS?
Oxygen’s anti-microbial mechanisms are not completely understood. It is known that
the cell envelopes surrounding many pathogen’s, like bacteria, are made up of
polysaccharides and proteins. In gram-negative pathogenic organisms, fatty acid alkyl chains
and helical lipoproteins are present. In acid-fast bacteria, such as Mycobacterium tuberculosis,
one third to one half of the capsule is composed of complex lipids, (esterified mycolic acid, in
addition to normal fatty acids), and glycolipids (sulfolipids, lipopolysaccharides, mycosides,
trehalose mycolates). It is this high lipid content of the cell walls of these pathogenic bacteria
that may explain their sensitivity, and eventual destruction, when exposed to oxygen molecules.
Oxygen molecules penetrate these cellular envelopes and affect the cytoplasmic integrity of
these pathogenic organisms. In addition, oxygen disrupts the metabolic activity of these
disease-causing cells.
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Oxygen reacts with the unsaturated fatty acids of the lipid layer in cellular membranes, forming
hydro-peroxides. There is a synergistic effect with cellular- formed H2O2 (hydrogen peroxide).
Lipid peroxidation products include alkoxyl and peroxyl radicals, singlet oxygen, ozonides,
carbonides, carbonyls, alkanes and alkenes.
Oxygen disrupts the integrity of the bacterial cell envelope through oxidation of the
phospholipids and lipoproteins. In fungi, oxygen inhibits cell growth at certain stages. With
viruses, the oxygen damages the viral capsid and disrupts the reproductive cycle by disrupting
the virus-to-cell contact with peroxidation. The weak enzyme coatings on cells that make them
vulnerable to invasion by viruses make them susceptible to oxidation and elimination from the
body, which then replaces them with healthy cells.
The preceding information is provided for reference purposes. No portion of this report may be
reproduced in part or as a whole without the expressed written permission of BIO2 International,
Inc. Activated Oxygen (ASO®) is sold under the U.S. Food and Drug Administration Dietary and
Supplement Health Education Act (USFDA DSHEA) as a dietary supplement. It is not sold as a
prescriptive or OTC medication nor is it or the information above intended to treat, cure,
diagnose or prevent any medical or condition or disease.
San Luis Obispo, CA U.S.A.
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©2008 BIO2 International, Inc.
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