Is there any benefit to drinking oxygenated water?

According to a study published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine, the amount of oxygen that can be absorbed by the body through drinking oxygenated water is physiologically negligible compared to breathing. This raises a critical question: is there any benefit to drinking oxygenated water, or is it simply a clever marketing gimmick?

Quick Summary

Scientific evidence shows minimal benefits from drinking oxygenated water beyond basic hydration for most people. Claims of enhanced athletic performance, faster recovery, and other health boosts are largely unsubstantiated, with normal breathing being a far more effective method of oxygen absorption. Much of the perceived effect is likely a placebo response due to weak scientific support.

Key Points

• Limited Scientific Evidence: Robust scientific data does not support the broad health claims made by producers of oxygenated water.

• Physiological Limitations: Humans absorb oxygen through their lungs, not their digestive system, making the extra oxygen in water physiologically insignificant.

• Insignificant Oxygen Boost: The oxygen content of a single breath of air is far greater than what is contained in an entire bottle of oxygenated water.

• Rapid Dissipation: The additional oxygen escapes quickly once a bottle or can is opened, requiring rapid consumption to receive even the minimal theoretical benefits.

• High Cost: Oxygenated water is often sold at a premium price for no proven added health value, making it a poor financial investment compared to tap water.

• Potential Placebo Effect: Some perceived benefits, such as improved athletic performance, may be a result of a psychological placebo effect rather than any physiological change.

What is Oxygenated Water?

Oxygenated water is a type of bottled water that has been infused with a higher concentration of dissolved oxygen than standard tap or purified water. The process typically involves adding pure oxygen gas to the water under pressure during bottling or canning. The idea behind the product is that by consuming water with extra oxygen, the body can absorb this oxygen through the digestive tract and benefit from improved energy, athletic performance, and other health enhancements. However, this concept is rooted in marketing rather than sound human physiology.

How is it Produced?

The manufacturing process for oxygenated water involves specialized equipment to increase the dissolved oxygen content. A common method is aeration, where oxygen gas is bubbled through the water under pressure. Some companies may also use electrolysis or other patented processes to achieve higher dissolved oxygen levels. This extra oxygen is stored in hermetically sealed containers. However, once the bottle or can is opened, the dissolved oxygen starts to escape relatively quickly, meaning it must be consumed soon after opening to retain its high oxygen content.

The Claims vs. The Science

Proponents of oxygenated water often advertise a wide range of benefits. Here is a look at some of the most common claims and what the available science actually suggests.

Claim: Improved Athletic Performance and Recovery

Marketers frequently target athletes with claims that oxygenated water can boost endurance and speed up muscle recovery. This is supposedly achieved by aiding lactate clearance, the process of removing lactic acid buildup in muscles during intense exercise.

The Scientific Reality

• Several studies have shown no significant improvement in exercise performance, endurance, or recovery when comparing oxygenated water to regular water.
• One study in 25 trained runners found that lactate clearance was improved but noted no other benefits to exercise performance. This limited evidence is not strong enough to support widespread claims.
• The human body's primary method for regulating oxygen levels is through the lungs. The amount of oxygen that can be delivered to muscles via drinking water is insignificant compared to what is absorbed through breathing.

Claim: Enhanced Alcohol Metabolism

Another purported benefit is the ability of oxygenated water to help the liver metabolize alcohol more efficiently. Since oxygen is required for the liver's metabolic processes, the theory is that extra oxygen could accelerate detoxification.

The Scientific Reality

• A single small study involving 15 men suggested that dissolved oxygen in drinks might accelerate the decrease in blood alcohol content.
• This area needs significantly more research to be considered a proven benefit. The limited data available means this claim is far from conclusive.

Claim: Boosted Energy, Immunity, and Detoxification

Some promotional materials suggest that oxygenated water can increase energy levels, improve mental clarity, boost the immune system, and help flush toxins from the body.

The Scientific Reality

• These broad health claims are not supported by robust scientific evidence. The physiological pathway for oxygen absorption does not work as promoters suggest, making these benefits highly unlikely.
• The body's natural detoxification processes, primarily handled by the liver and kidneys, are not measurably improved by drinking a small amount of extra oxygen.

The Physiology: Why It Doesn't Work as Advertised

The fundamental reason why drinking oxygenated water offers no significant benefit is human physiology. The body has evolved a highly efficient respiratory system to deliver oxygen to the bloodstream.

• The Lungs are Key: Oxygen is absorbed into the blood via the millions of tiny air sacs (alveoli) in the lungs. From there, it binds to hemoglobin in red blood cells to be transported throughout the body. The respiratory system is designed to maximize this process.
• The Gut is Inefficient: The digestive tract is not equipped to absorb significant quantities of dissolved oxygen. The stomach and intestines are for digesting nutrients, and any oxygen that makes it past the throat is largely insignificant compared to a single breath.
• Quantity is Negligible: A single breath of air at rest contains more oxygen than a full bottle of oxygenated water. The oxygen you consume by breathing vastly outweighs the tiny amount potentially gained from drinking water.

Potential Risks and Drawbacks

While generally safe, oxygenated water isn't without potential drawbacks, especially considering the cost.

• Oxygen Radical Generation: A study published in Toxicology Letters noted that long-term consumption of oxygenated water led to a moderate, transient increase in oxygen radicals in the blood. Excess free radicals can cause cellular damage, though this effect was deemed non-harmful in the study.
• High Cost for No Reward: Oxygenated water is often significantly more expensive than regular bottled or tap water. Paying a premium for a product with unsubstantiated benefits represents a poor investment in health.
• Rapid Oxygen Loss: The dissolved oxygen escapes quickly once the bottle is opened. This means consumers must drink it almost immediately to even get the slightly higher oxygen content, which is often impractical.
• The Placebo Effect: A study cited by MedicineNet found that when athletes believed they were drinking oxygenated water, their performance improved, but when they were unknowingly given tap water, their performance did not change. This highlights that the perceived benefit is often a psychological placebo effect rather than a physiological one.

Oxygenated Water vs. Regular Water

Feature	Oxygenated Water	Regular Water	Finding
Cost	High (premium price)	Low or Free (tap)	Regular water is far more economical.
Oxygen Absorption	Physiologically insignificant via gut	Naturally present, but insignificant via gut	Breathing is the primary oxygen source.
Primary Benefit	Hydration	Hydration	Both provide hydration, the most crucial benefit.
Taste	Often flatter due to purification	Varies by source, can be richer	Regular water can taste better depending on the source.
Scientific Support	Limited and unproven health claims	Universally proven for hydration	Regular water is backed by robust science for its benefits.

Conclusion: Is Oxygenated Water Worth It?

Based on the current body of evidence and fundamental human biology, the purported benefits of drinking oxygenated water appear to be largely overblown marketing claims. The amount of extra oxygen absorbed is minuscule compared to what is gained from breathing, making any promised performance boosts or health improvements highly improbable for the average person. While it provides hydration, the same can be achieved much more affordably with regular water. For high-level athletes, some limited studies suggest a potential marginal effect on lactate clearance, but this is not conclusive and should be weighed against the physiological limitations. Ultimately, there is no significant scientific basis to suggest any added health benefit to drinking oxygenated water, and its premium price makes it a questionable investment for achieving health goals.

Final Thoughts on Hydration

Instead of focusing on functional waters with unproven benefits, prioritize consistent and adequate hydration with regular water. Water is essential for maintaining body temperature, organ function, and energy levels.

For those interested in exploring the scientific discussion further, a peer-reviewed article on athletic performance is available here: “Oxygenated” water and athletic performance - PMC.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does drinking oxygenated water increase oxygen levels in the blood?

No, the human body primarily absorbs oxygen through the lungs, not the digestive system. The amount of oxygen that can be absorbed from drinking water is negligible and does not meaningfully increase blood oxygen levels.

Can oxygenated water boost my athletic performance?

Scientific studies have largely failed to find significant evidence that oxygenated water improves athletic performance or endurance. Any perceived benefit is likely a placebo effect, as normal breathing provides a far greater and more effective supply of oxygen.

Is oxygenated water just a marketing gimmick?

For most health claims beyond basic hydration, yes. The scientific community has widely dismissed the idea that drinking water infused with extra oxygen provides significant benefits. The marketing often focuses on vague associations without providing direct evidence.

Are there any risks to drinking oxygenated water?

While generally safe, one study suggested a transient moderate increase in oxygen radicals in the blood after long-term consumption, though the effect was deemed non-harmful. For most, the main risk is simply paying a high price for a product with unproven benefits.

How is oxygenated water made?

Oxygenated water is typically produced by infusing pure oxygen gas into purified water under pressure during the bottling or canning process. This increases the dissolved oxygen content, but the oxygen begins to escape once the container is opened.

Does oxygenated water taste different from regular water?

Oxygenated water may have a flatter taste than regular water because it is often purified to remove other gases and impurities before oxygen is added. The 'crisp' taste is primarily due to the bubbles, similar to sparkling water, but with oxygen instead of carbon dioxide.

Does oxygenated water help with hangovers?

Some limited research has explored the possibility that oxygenated water may enhance alcohol metabolism. However, this is far from a scientifically established benefit, and more research is needed to substantiate these claims.

Is oxygenated water worth the extra cost?

Given the lack of robust scientific evidence supporting its purported health benefits, the added cost of oxygenated water is not a worthwhile investment for most consumers. Regular tap or filtered water provides the same essential hydration at a fraction of the cost.