Study dismisses 'Hyperoxygenated' Water Claims

Bottled water brands which claim to boost the body's performance through being hyperoxygenated have been dealt a blow by a new study.

According to Professor Claude Piantadosi writing in the British Journal of Sports Medicine, there was no significant difference in the oxygen content compared to regular bottled water and there is more of the gas in a breath of fresh air.

"The only good thing I can say is that they won't hurt anything except your pocketbook. Put this idea in the waste bin with Ponce de Leon's fountain of youth," Professor Piantadosi told BeverageDaily.com.

Hyperoxygenated bottled water is marketed as a premium product and is a sector which has been growing quickly in the past few years on its claims of improved performance.

Yet the professor said that his studies suggest that only small amounts of oxygen can be dissolved in drinking water and the report adds that "no significant amount of oxygen was absorbed via the intestine".

Although manufacturers hit back, one admitted in the report that any performance boost might only be due to psychological reasons.

Resources: BJSM