This is off-topic (for diving) but when I see football players sitting on the bench using supplemental oxygen what is that really doing? I thought the body got all the oxygen it needed from air so what additional benefit are football players getting from supplemental oxygen?
Off Topic: 100% O2 and Sports?
- Thread starter gcbryan
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Little to none.
With normal lung function (which one would expect from well-conditioned athletes), hemoglobin is 99% saturated when breathing room air. Little additional oxygen is loaded on the hemoglobin (which is where the vast majority of oxygen is carried in the blood) with higher inspired pp02s. The amount of dissolved oxygen DOES increase, but since oxygen is poorly soluble, this results in very little additional MASS of oxygen in plasma.
It's like the popularity of "oxygen bars". There's no science behind it.
With normal lung function (which one would expect from well-conditioned athletes), hemoglobin is 99% saturated when breathing room air. Little additional oxygen is loaded on the hemoglobin (which is where the vast majority of oxygen is carried in the blood) with higher inspired pp02s. The amount of dissolved oxygen DOES increase, but since oxygen is poorly soluble, this results in very little additional MASS of oxygen in plasma.
It's like the popularity of "oxygen bars". There's no science behind it.
OP
gcbryan
Contributor
It's still a partial pressure issue. On room air, you're breathing 21% O2, or just about 150 torr. On 100% O2, you're breathing 760 torr. This is what causes the difference in the amount of oxygen equilibrated with the plasma, and carried on the Hb.
placebo effect
Dr Deco
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Hello gcbryan:
As others have already remarked, there is not a physiological reason for breathing 100% oxygen during sporting events.
Sometimes, athletes do find a psychological advantage that might increase their performance. Drinking honey a couple of minutes prior to putting the shot might be an example. Nothing can happen physiologically in that short a duration. :sprite10:
Whatever effect might be there, one could not ascribe it to physiology.
It is always an interesting topic, however.
Dr Deco :doctor:
As others have already remarked, there is not a physiological reason for breathing 100% oxygen during sporting events.
Sometimes, athletes do find a psychological advantage that might increase their performance. Drinking honey a couple of minutes prior to putting the shot might be an example. Nothing can happen physiologically in that short a duration. :sprite10:
Whatever effect might be there, one could not ascribe it to physiology.
It is always an interesting topic, however.
Dr Deco :doctor:
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