While EPO regulation is certainly related to blood oxygenation levels, it's only when you have that decrease in oxygen that the phenomenon will then cause a feedback mechanism in the renal system that will prompt the kidneys to produce erythropoietin, which then results in an increased production of red blood cells. While this feedback mechanism is certainly useful (Increase Hematocrit = Increase in the oxygen carrying capacity of the blood), a reciprocal effect isn't seen when you increase oxygen.
On the flip side, if you increase oxygen levels tremendously, you can actually cause some fatal effects to the body, particularly to the pulmonary system and the central nervous system (seizures). Instead of having a feedback mechanism that somehow deters the overall ability for you to consume or even carry the large amount of oxygen, you then have pulmonary (collapse lung) and neural effects. If you could just increase hematocrit by taking in oxygen, you would then be able to increase the overall percentage of hematocrit above safe levels (Safe levels as within that therapeutic range 37%-54%, encompassing both men and women), which could then raise hematocrit levels above 60% which can actually cause spontaneous blood clotting, not much of a happy ending.
A DUB, jump in here when you have a chance..
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LOL I'll leave this convo for you smart IM guys!!! If you need something cut out, put in or sewn up give me a hollar LOL But i absolutely agree with everything you said. Certainly there is something to be said about training at high altitude and its overall hematologic effects, but this isnt the case with supplemental O2 LOL
While i dont think someone would be able to reach toxic levels of O2 with this supplement, it wouldnt surprise me if gym rats get a hold of it and take 5x the recommended dose and reaching toxicity.
Plain and simply put, if you are training and out of breath... Rest a few minutes and get back into your workout, you'll have all the oxygen you need!
