Oxygen Absorption

NOTED IDDC SCIENTIST SAYS EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF MEDICAL RESEARCH STUDY SUPPORTS OXYGEN ABSORPTION FROM THE STOMACH FOLLOWING THE CONSUMPTION OF SUPER OXYGENATED WATER

Peer-Reviewed Study Supports The Transport Of Oxygen Via Oxygen-Enriched Water From The Stomach Into the Portal Vein

Nationally acclaimed scientist, Esam Z. Dajani, Ph.D., FACG, today commented on a study published by the European Journal of Medical Research, which examined the pharmacology of Super Oxygenated water. This peer-reviewed study was performed by Drs. Forth and Adam of the Walther-Straub Institute for Pharmacology and Toxicology, Munich, Germany. The study examined the intragastric absorption of oxygen following the consumption of oxygen enriched water (water containing dissolved oxygen present at a concentration of about 10 times that found in ordinary tap water) in anesthetized rabbits. The study clearly supports the systemic transport of oxygen, derived from oxygenated water, from the stomach into the portal vein.

The rabbits were administered intragastrically 30 ml of oxygenated water at concentrations of 45, 80 and 150 mg O2/liter or PPM. Oxygen pressure (pO2), carbon dioxide pressure (pCO2) and pH were recorded at 5 minute intervals in the stomach, abdominal (peritoneal) cavity and the portal vein using surgically implanted pressure probes. Oxygen was transported, in a concentration-dependent manner, from the stomach to the abdominal cavity and the portal vein.

Ordinary tap water contains approximately 7 to 15 PPM of dissolved oxygen. The 45 PPM test solution resulted in negligible increase in oxygen pressure in the abdomen. However, the 80 and 150 PPM test solutions resulted in statistically significant increased oxygen pressure in the abdomen (P < 0.05). In the portal vein, the administration of 80 and 150 PPM test solutions (typical of commercially available high-quality Super-Oxygenated water) increased oxygen pressure by 10 and 14 mmHg, respectively (P < 0.05). Neither pCO2 and pH were influenced by the administration of oxygenated water.

“The kinetics of oxygen transport in the rabbit is expected to be similar to other mammalian species, including man,” said Dr. Dajani, president of IDDC Corporation, a Contract Research Organization (CRO). “The fact that a dose-dependent and a statistically significant increase in pO2 value was present in the abdominal cavity and portal vein following the intragastric administration of oxygenated water indicates that oxygen is readily transported from the stomach and gastrointestinal tract to the systemic circulation and presumably muscle tissues.”

“Increased oxygen concentration in skeletal muscle would provide the needed fuel for the enhancement of athletic performance,” Dr. Dajani added. “Furthermore, the increased oxygen concentration into the portal vein could be of benefit for the treatment of inflammatory liver diseases.” Dr. Dajani cautioned this would have to be further investigated in prospective laboratory and clinical studies.

Dr. Dajani said this recent study coupled with two independent studies performed by John J. Duncan, Ph.D., Texas Woman’s University, and John Seifert, Ph.D., St. Cloud State University underscores the value and benefit of Super Oxygenated water toward increased athletic performance. The Duncan study, as it is commonly referred, was a randomized, double blind study that investigated the physiological, psychological, and biochemical consequences of fluid replacement with Super Oxygenated water (50 and 100 PPM of O2) in comparison with ordinary bottled water (7 PPM of O2) in 25 athletes. The 5K running times, oxygen carry capacity, oxygen saturation, psychological parameters, as well as blood lipids, lactate and glucose concentrations were determined. The study showed that 83 percent of the fastest running times were achieved by athletes who drank the Super Oxygenated water (P < 0.01). Among highly-fit athletes, Super Oxygenated water significantly decreased 5K running times by an average of 31 seconds as compared to the ordinary bottled water (P < 0.05). There were no statistically significant changes in blood chemistry or psychological parameters. However, there was a trend suggesting a decreased formation of lactic acid. It was concluded that Super Oxygenated water was a well-tolerated and effective ergogenic aid for improving athletic performance.

The Seifert study was a preliminary investigation of the effect on Super Oxygenated water (80 PPM of O2) versus tap water on athletic performance. The study was conducted in eight well trained cyclists using a double blind, randomized, cross over design. Subjects cycled at 70% of their maximum oxygen uptake for 60 minutes. At the end of the 60-minute period, cyclists performed a 60,000 Joule performance task. Super Oxygenated water produced a finishing time 243 seconds for a defined 60,000-Joule task compared with a finishing time of 252 second for the placebo. Although cyclists’ performance was not statistically improved (P = 0.16), there was certainly a positive trend noted for performance improvement with the use of Super Oxygenated water. Case in point, 5 out of 8 cyclists finished faster with the use of Super Oxygenated water than with placebo. Although there was no statistically significant difference between the two groups for lactic acid, blood glucose level was significantly maintained at higher level during exercise with Super Oxygenated water when compared with the placebo water (P = 0.01).

Dr. Dajani said that “all three studies suggest that the oxygen made available from the ingestion of Super Oxygenated water can be transported from the stomach and the small bowel to the blood circulation, where it would then directly provide the energy needed by the working muscles rather than having to depend on the metabolic breakdown of glycogen and glucose for the generation of such energy. Such metabolic changes are associated with increased levels of lactic acid in the blood and muscles. Lactic acid accumulation is known to hinder athletic performance and to cause fatigue”.

Reference: European Journal of Medical Research 2001; 6(11): 488-492

Forth W, Adam O: Uptake of oxygen from the intestine--experiments with rabbits.
Esam Z. Dajani, Ph.D., FACG, is an independent consultant who has been retained by BEVsystems International, Inc. to support the clinical development of Super Oxygenated Water. Dr. Dajani is a graduate pharmacologist (Ph.D. in 1969) and a licensed pharmacist (BS in 1963) with 33 years experience in pharmaceutical research and development (R&D). Dr. Dajani is currently the founder and president of the IDDC Corporation, a contract Research Organization (CRO) established in 1993, which provides consulting and drug development services essential for the successful introduction of drugs and biological substances. Dr. Dajani had previously directed worldwide clinical research at Searle Laboratories (currently Pharmacia), Skokie, Illinois and had previously worked at Searle, in various capacities, performing pre-clinical and clinical R&D functions. Dr. Dajani has significant experience in regulatory affairs. Dr. Dajani was most instrumental in the discovery and development of Cytotec, an anti-ulcer prostaglandin drug. Dr. Dajani currently holds Adjunct Professor of Medicine appointment at Loyola University of Chicago. He previously held Adjunct Professor of Pharmacology appointment at Chicago Medical School.

Dr. Dajani published 114 peer-reviewed articles, book chapters and patents covering the fields of pharmacology, gastroenterology and drug development. He also made 126 presentations at national and international biomedical conferences. Dr. Dajani is a member of the editorial boards for the Journal of the Association for Academic Minority Physicians, Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology and Journal of Drug Development Research. Major professional memberships held by Dr. Dajani include: American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, American Gastroenterological Association, American College of Gastroenterology (Fellow), Association for Academic Minority Physicians (Councilor and Board member), Drug Information Association, American Pharmaceutical Association and Chicago Biotech Network (Founder and Board Member). Dr. Dajani was awarded the Monsanto Corporation Edgar M. Queeny award for outstanding scientific achievement and was named by Purdue University School of Pharmacy and Pharmacal Sciences as a Distinguished Alumnus.