Manos, T. M., Fuller, P. J., & Koesterer, T. J. (2012). Effects of oxygenated water on aerobic performance in Division II collegiate male soccer players. Presentation 1395 at the 59th Annual Meeting of the American College of Sports Medicine, San Francisco, California; May 29-June 2, 2012.

"Supplemental oxygen (O2), ingested in commercially-available “oxygenated water” preparations, has not been shown to have consistent effects on aerobic performance measures. Most researchers have found no significant differences in oxygen saturation of hemoglobin, VO2max, and time to exhaustion when comparing the effects of oxygenated water to placebo; yet, in some studies, highly-fit Ss ingesting oxygenated water were found to have significantly higher values for these measures."

This study determined the effects of oxygenated water on aerobic performance in Division II male soccer players (N = 12). Two maximal tests were conducted (8 mph, 2.5% grade initially, with increments of 2.5% grade every two minutes until volitional exhaustion) approximately one week apart. Treatments were 500 ml of bottled water (placebo) or commercial “activated stabilized oxygen” water taken 15 minutes prior to the test. Time-to-exhaustion, oxygen saturation of hemoglobin (SpO2; via pulse oximetry), heart rate, and expired gases were measured.

The SpO2 and VO2 at the highest common workload achieved on both trials were not different between the placebo and oxygenated water conditions. The SpO2 at the lowest point during the maximal testing and at exhaustion were not different between conditions. VO2max and maximum heart rate also were not significantly different between the conditions. Although the time to exhaustion was longer by 22.34 seconds for oxygenated water, the difference with placebo did not reach statistical significance.

Implication. Ingestion of oxygenated water does not produce changes in aerobic performance measurements in Division II male soccer players.

Return to Table of Contents for this issue.