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There are a number of commercial products who claim to contain more oxygen on a volumes percent basis than Hydrogen peroxide and consequently this has been interpreted as meaning they would somehow have more biological activity. There is a great deal of confusion about the difference between the term “Oxygenation and Oxidation” when applied to biochemical reactions. A product which contains more oxygen per molecule may or may not have any biological activity.
We reported (1) Intravenous Hydrogen Peroxide has an oxidative stimulatory effect when administered to man which appears to be independent of the amount of oxygen produced.
Hydrogen Peroxide is a very simple molecule produced by almost every cell in the body. This amazing molecule. Essential for life in both plant and animal, has been generally overlooked for it's role in oxidative metabolism. Every chemist knows any reaction must have an opposite reaction to balance the equation. This applies equally to reactions in the test tube and in living cells. The world seems to have been caught up in the idea all biological oxidative is harmful because free radicals may be reproduced. Free-radicals can cause lipid per oxidation and membrane damage. Consequently many products, containing anti-oxidants, are being promoted to prevent per oxidation. Some researchers (2), including this author, feel per oxidation serves a useful purpose in the biochemical balance and may need stimulating at times instead of preventing.
Hydrogen Peroxide may increase oxygen tension in the tissue is of secondary importance. Any student of biochemistry knows the principal reaction of an oxidizer, such as Hydrogen peroxide, is to accept electrons in the RedOx reactions of the body and has nothing to do with ‘Oxygen or ‘Oxygenation’. It is true Hydrogen Peroxide increases the rate of oxidation in the body (3) but this is not because it produces oxygen but rather it stimulates oxidative enzymes.
Hydrogen peroxide is a naturally occurring, purposeful molecule in the body. It functions to aid membrane transport, acts as a hormonal messenger, regulates thermogensis(heat production) stimulates and regulates immune functions, regulates energy production and has many other important metabolic functions. These effects can occur without increasing the amount of oxygen. It is purposely used by the body to produce Hydroxyl Radicals to kill bacteria, virus, fungi, yeast and a number of parasites. This natural killing or protective system has nothing to do with increasing the amount of available Oxygen.
The amount of oxygen produced by a therapeutic infusion of Hydrogen Peroxide is very small. A single breath of fresh air contains many times more oxygen than found in either a therapeutic infusion or in a few air contains many times more oxygen than found in either a therapeutic infusion or in a few drops of 35% Food Grade hydrogen Peroxide taken orally.
Claims are being made that molecules containing Oxygen and Chlorine, Chloride or Chlorite ions will sterilize water, milk and almost anything to which they have been added. Chlorine is added to almost all public water supplies for the same purpose. The small amount of oxygen in these molecules may have little to do with sterilization process. There are more aerobic (requires oxygen) than anerobic(does not use oxygen) bacteria and increasing the oxygen supply may actually stimulate the growth of the aerobic bacteria. ‘Oxygen supply’ or Oxygenation’ is not a credible basis for the promotion of Chlorine containing products. Oxidation is the key word and not Oxygenation
Oxidation is the removal of an electron from a molecule which changes the electrical energy of the molecule into an oxidized state. The reaction takes place in many biochemical reactions in which OXYGEN is not involved. In oxidative reactions in which hydrogen peroxide is involved, oxygen is released when the Hydrogen Peroxide, acting as an oxidizer is reduced but it is the transfer to the electrons which is important and not the production of Oxygen.
Manufactures of products which claim to have the same effect as Hydrogen Peroxide may not have a good understanding of the biochemical role if Hydrogen peroxide in the body. Some of these products claim to provide more oxygen molecules than Hydrogen Peroxide and that may be true but I know of no scientific evidence to show this enhances oxidative metabolism. Cancer and many other degenerative diseases are thought to be the results of poor cellular oxidative processes. They are not the results of a reduced supply of oxygen. Persons with anemia or sever lung disease may have an oxygen deficit but do not necessarily have a greater incidence of Cancer or chronic diseases. The problem is not the delivery of oxygen to the cells but utilization by the cells. Hydrogen peroxide affects utilization or oxidation dramatically where as hyper-oxygenated or chlorinated molecules have not been shown to be necessary in the body to improve oxidative metabolism.
Charles H Farr, MD, PHD
Genisis Medical Research Institute
5419 S. Western
Oklahoma City, OK 73109
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