Bottom Line: Oxygen therapies do not treat or cure cancer. People who support the use of oxygen therapies make false claims as to how it works.
People have been promoting the use of oxygen therapies for decades. Their idea is that cancer and many other diseases are caused by a build-up of toxins in the body from pollution, processed foods, and other factors. They think that by supplying high levels of oxygen to the body, they can detoxify the organs and kill cancer cells. Studies have shown that this is not true. First, laboratory studies show that cancer cells actually grow rapidly when supplied with high levels of oxygen, and that low levels of oxygen do not cause the formation of new cancer cells. Secondly, compared to the amount of oxygen already flowing through our blood, the amount of oxygen that would be delivered by hydrogen peroxide, ozone, or "oxygenated water" is very small. Although hydrogen peroxide and ozone kill bacteria and viruses outside of the body (like pouring hydrogen peroxide on a wound to clean it), studies in animals and humans show that neither agent can kill bacteria and viruses in the bloodstream of a living thing.
Hydrogen peroxide and "hyperoxygenated water" have never been studied in clinical trials.
HIV and AIDS: Researchers wanted to see if ozone would have any effect on HIV-positive patients, since ozone effectively kills the HIV virus outside of the body. Nine HIV-positive patients who were taking no other medications went through eight weeks of autohemotherapy, a therapy in which blood is drawn from the patient, ozone gas is bubbled through it, and it is reinjected into the patient. Five HIV-positive patients in the control group received the same therapy but without ozone. Immune function and infection level were unchanged in both groups, and CD4 counts actually decreased in the group receiving ozone, showing that ozone autohemotherapy is not effective in treating HIV.
A very small trial studied the use of ozone enemas in five HIV-positive patients with chronic diarrhea. After three weeks, four out of five patients reported a lasting improvement in their symptoms, but there are other, less invasive ways of treating diarrhea.
There is no scientific evidence to support any other effects.
The American Cancer Society strongly urges cancer patients not to seek treatment with ozone therapy, hydrogen peroxide, or other "hyperoxygenation" therapies.
Blood-borne viruses such as hepatitis C and HIV have been passed from person to person when contaminated autohemotherapy devices were used.
Colonic irrigation (enemas) with 3% hydrogen peroxide can cause gas bubbles to form in the veins of the liver and can cause gangrene and rupture of the colon. It has also caused colitis and deadly bacterial infections in a number of adults and infants.
When hydrogen peroxide is given through an artery, patients report discomfort at the site of infusion: a stinging, burning sensation that disappears 6-8 hours later.
Case Reports: 35% (sometimes called "food grade") hydrogen peroxide given through an I.V. caused
bloody urine, destruction of red blood cells, kidney failure and death in an AIDS patient and
acute hemolytic crisis (destruction of red blood cells), leading to death in a man with metastatic cancer.
Case Reports:
Ingestion of 3% hydrogen peroxide solution by a 2-year old boy caused vomiting and gas bubbles in the liver veins.
Ingestion of 30-40% ("food grade") hydrogen peroxide solution resulted in three adult deaths from gas bubbles in the veins and collapse of the circulatory system.
Ingestion of 30-40% ("food grade") hydrogen peroxide caused formation of gas bubbles in the veins of the brain, causing seizures and brain damage in 2 patients.
Ozone:
When ozone is injected under the skin, patients report pain, burning, redness, swelling, and hematoma.
When ozone gas is used in an enema, mild to moderate discomfort is reported.
Ozone given through an I.V. can cause fever, weakness, and a bitter taste in the mouth.
At low concentrations, inhalation of ozone is irritating to the nose and throat. At higher concentrations, inhalation of ozone may cause headaches, respiratory irritation, and possibly coma.
Unproven alternative therapies and products offered over the internet and at clinics in Mexico, the U.S., and Europe. The term "oxygen therapy" refers to any product or treatment based on the false theory that cancer, infections, HIV, and degenerative diseases are caused by oxygen deficiency. Such therapies purport to deliver high levels of oxygen to tissues and thereby kill cancer cells, eliminate pathogens, stimulate metabolism, and produce "oxidative detoxification." They include: hydrogen peroxide therapy, involving intravenous infusion, ingestion, colonic administration, or soaking in hydrogen peroxide solution; ozone colonics and ozone autohemotherapy, in which blood is bubbled with ozone and reinjected; hyperbaric oxygen chambers; and "oxygenated" water, pills, and solutions. No scientific evidence supports their marketing claims; studies show that oxygen neither prevents nor inhibits cancer growth and tumors grow rapidly in tissues that are well supplied with oxygen. Even if "oxygenated" products contain the oxygen levels they claim, oxygen is not likely to be absorbed through the gastrointestinal tract. Ingestion or use of hydrogen peroxide enemas can cause lethal gas embolism (1)(19)(20) and colitis-induced sepsis and gangrene (3), while its intravenous injection has led to acute hemolytic crisis and death (18)(21)(28). Transmission of blood-borne viruses such as hepatitis C and HIV is reported after treatment with contaminated autohemotherapy devices (17). Oxygen radicals released by ozone and hydrogen peroxide may be mutagenic. The American Cancer Society urges cancer patients not to seek treatment with hydrogen peroxide, ozone therapy, or other "hyperoxygenation" therapies. Oxygen therapies should not be recommended (4).
Oxygen therapies are based on the concept that cancer and other degenerative diseases are caused by oxygen deficiency resulting from air pollution, processed foods, toxin buildup, emotional distress, and water fluoridation. Proponents cite Otto Warburg's finding of lower metabolism rates in cancer cells to conclude that cancer cells operate on an anaerobic level and therefore will be selectively destroyed by the oxygen liberated by hydrogen peroxide, ozone, and "oxygenated" products (4). Laboratory studies show that oxygen neither prevents nor inhibits cancer growth, that tumors grow rapidly in tissues that are well supplied with oxygenated blood, and that the absence of oxygen does not stimulate tumor growth in vitro or in vivo (14).
Exogenous hydrogen peroxide undergoes an exothermic decomposition reaction upon contact with catalase in human blood, liberating oxygen and water (5). It shows no anti-tumor effects at non-lethal concentrations in animal models (6). Intravenous administration of hydrogen peroxide results in no decrease in Escherichia coli bacteremia in rabbits or free human blood (2). Typical intra-arterial administration produces only 2.9 ml of oxygen per 100 ml of blood per minute, an insignificant addition considering that normal adult metabolism requires between 200 and 250 ml of oxygen each (8).
Ozone exhibits broad antiviral activity via peroxidation of phospholipids and lipoproteins in the viral envelope (8). Although ozone effectively kills HIV in vitro (9), it does not reduce viral load in human studies (10). Ozone incubation of free human blood has been recorded to result in immunomodulatory effects, but it is unknown whether these effects occur in vivo (12)(13).
Absorption Hydrogen peroxide has a half-life of 0.75-2 seconds in human blood, at which point it dissociates into oxygen and water, and possibly hydroxy radicals. Sodium clearance studies in dogs and rats show that blood levels of 0.007 volume percent and above result in oxygen supersaturation and formation of gas emboli, causing capillary blockage, possible tissue necrosis, gangrene and death (5)(8). Studies reproducing 0.75-3% hydrogen peroxide solution enemas in dogs observe that the bowel wall and surrounding mesenteric vessels blanch white as blood is replaced by gas; bubbles appear in the mesenteric lymphatics, veins, arteries, and lymph nodes, and then in the portal vein. Mesenteric and portal vein blood is completely replaced by gas, but is restored upon the removal of hydrogen peroxide. With higher concentrations, fibrin plugging of capillaries, venous thrombosis and infarction of tissue are described (15).
Ozone gas has a half-life of about 40 minutes in dry air at 22°C. In blood, ozone decomposes quickly into a cascade of organic radicals such as ozonides, aldehydes, hydroxyhydroperoxides, hydrogen peroxide, isoprostanes and lipid hydroperoxides. Colorectal insufflation of oxygen-ozone in rabbits causes a slight increase in pO2 values in both portal and peripheral venous blood (16).
The American Cancer Society strongly urges cancer patients not to seek treatment with ozone therapy, hydrogen peroxide, or other "hyperoxygenation" therapies. Transmission of blood-borne viruses such as hepatitis C and HIV is reported after treatment with contaminated autohemotherapy devices. (17)
Common (Intra-rectal Hydrogen Peroxide): Colonic irrigation with hydrogen peroxide solution can cause gas embolism in the portal venous system, which is associated with gangrenous and perforated bowel. Numerous cases of hydrogen peroxide-induced ulcerative colitis and sepsis have been reported (15). Reported (Intravenous Hydrogen Peroxide): Discomfort at site of infusion; a stinging, burning sensation during infusion that disappears 6-8 hours later (8). Case Report (Intra-rectal Hydrogen Peroxide): One infant experienced rupture of the colon and two others died from gram-negative sepsis following evacuation of meconium with peroxide lavage (15). Case Report (Intravenous Hydrogen Peroxide): In a 51-year old AIDS patient, injection of 35% hydrogen peroxide into the subclavian vein catheter caused Heinz body hemolytic anemia, subsequent hemoglobinuria and death from progressive renal insufficiency with multiple electrolyte abnormalities (18). A 39-year old man with metastatic cancer experienced acute hemolytic crisis leading to death after intravenous injection of hydrogen peroxide (21). Case Report (Oral Hydrogen Peroxide): Ingestion of an unknown amount of 3% hydrogen peroxide solution caused vomiting and reversible portal venous gas embolism in a 2-year old boy (1). Ingestion of 30-40% hydrogen peroxide solution resulted in three adult deaths from gas embolism and circulatory collapse (3). Two cases of cerebral embolism are reported after 30-40% hydrogen peroxide ingestion: a 33-year old woman experienced seizures, respiratory arrest, transmucosal emphysema, diffuse hemorrhages and edema of the gastric mucosa, brain edema and residual motor deficits (19); an 84-year old man sustained infarcts in the right anterior, middle, and posterior cerebral arteries and left frontal and multiple cerebellar arteries from gas embolization (20). Common (Subcutaneous Ozone): Local pain, burning, erythema, edema, and hematoma (23). Reported (Colonic ozone insufflation): Mild to moderate discomfort during administration (22). Reported (Intravenous Ozone): Fever, weakness, bitter taste in mouth. Reported (Ozone Inhalation): At 0.01 ppm, ozone is irritating to the nose and throat mucous membranes. At 1-10 ppm, ozone may cause headaches, respiratory irritation, and possibly coma (24).
No clinical studies evaluate usage of intravenous or oral hydrogen peroxide or "oxygenated" products in humans.
Carpendale MT, Freeberg J, Griffiss JM. Does ozone alleviate AIDS diarrhea? J Clin Gastroenterol 1993;17:142-5. A small, open-label pilot study of daily colonic ozone/oxygen insufflations for 21 days in five male HIV+ patients with intractable diarrhea of unknown etiology. A medical ozone generator produced mixtures of 6-35 ug ozone/ml oxygen, which was administered through the rectum until the entire colon and cecum were filled; doses varied between patients. Outcomes measured were proportion of formed bowel movements per week as recorded by the patient and corroborated by a nurse, and physical exam and laboratory studies evaluated on treatment days 1, 8, 15, 22, and weeks 1, 2, and 3 posttreatment. Patients reported mild to moderate discomfort during administration. By 3 weeks, 4 of 5 patients reported resolved or markedly improved symptoms, which lasted 3 weeks post-therapy. No consistent change was found in CD4 count or other parameter. Larger, controlled studies are required to substantiate the efficacy of ozone/oxygen colonics in treating AIDS-related diarrhea.
Garber GE, et al. The use of ozone-treated blood in the therapy of HIV infection and immune disease: a pilot study of safety and efficacy. AIDS 1991;5:981-4. A phase I open-label evaluation of ozone blood treatments in 10 HIV+ patients with CD4 counts between 50-500 cells/ul undergoing no other antiretroviral or opportunistic infection treatment. Ten cc of heparinized blood was drawn, ozone was bubbled through the sample for 5 min, 2 cc of lidocaine was added, and the sample was injected intramuscularly, 3 times per week for 8 weeks. As no hematologic or biochemical toxicity was reported and 3 patients showed improvement in CD4 counts, a randomized, double-blind phase II trial using the same protocol was initiated in 14 patients with CD4 counts between 200-400 cells/ul (treatment n=9, placebo n=5). Placebo patients' blood was drawn, sham processed, and reinjected with lidocaine. Blood parameters were measured at weeks 0, 1, 3, 5, 8, and 12. CD4 count decreased in the ozone group but rebounded after discontinuation of therapy, while IL-2, g-interferon, b2-microglobulin, neopterin, and p24 antigen were unaffected in both treatment arms. Ozone content of blood was not measured before injection, so actual doses received is unknown. This study does not support the use of ozone blood therapy in HIV patients.
Johnson RJR, Froese G. Hydrogen peroxide and radiotherapy. Bubble formation in blood. Br J Radiol 1968;41:749-54.
Green HN, Westrop JW. Hydrogen peroxide and tumor therapy. Nature 1958;181:128-9.
Mallams JT, Finney JW, Balla GA. The use of hydrogen peroxide as a source of oxygen in a regional intra-arterial infusion system. South Med J 1962;55:230-2.
Farr CH. Physiological and biochemical responses to intravenous hydrogen peroxide in man. J Adv Med 1988;1:113-29.
Franzini M, et al. Subcutaneous oxygen-ozone therapy in indurative hypodermatitis and in localized lipodystrophies: a clinical study of efficacy and tolerability. Acta Toxicol Ther 1993;14:273-88.
