What Researchers Did
Researchers investigated the effectiveness of negatively or positively ionized oxygen compared to medical oxygen at atmospheric pressure for reducing carboxyhemoglobin (COHb) levels in vitro and in smokers.
What They Found
In vitro, diluted blood with varying CO content showed the highest carboxyhemoglobin elimination when purged with negatively ionized oxygen for 15 minutes. Similarly, in 15 smokers, inhalation of negatively ionized oxygen led to a greater decrease in expired CO levels compared to medical oxygen.
What This Means for Canadian Patients
This research suggests that negatively ionized oxygen therapy could offer a more effective way to reduce carboxyhemoglobin levels in patients, potentially improving outcomes for carbon monoxide exposure. If further validated, this approach could provide an alternative or adjunct to current treatments like medical oxygen at atmospheric pressure.
Canadian Relevance
This study has no direct Canadian connection.
Study Limitations
The study's limitations include a small sample size of 15 smokers and the use of a specific ionization device, warranting further larger-scale clinical trials.