SNAC: HypOxygen

HypOxygen - The Oxygenation Enhancement Support Formula*

HypOxygen™ contains specific nutrients needed to support the production and regulation of red blood cells and hemoglobin, which transport oxygen molecules throughout the body.* HypOxygen also provides nutrients with vasodilation effects, which further promotes oxygen delivery to muscle tissue and accelerates the removal of metabolic waste byproducts such as lactic acid and ammonia.* High intensity exercise creates an oxygen deficit that causes a build up of these compounds and results in the rapid onset of fatigue. The synergistic ingredients in HypOxygen have been suggested to have positive effects upon VO2 max, which is the maximum amount of oxygen an individual can utilize during exercise.*

The sports nutrition industry is rapidly becoming inundated with products touting their ability to stimulate the production of erythropoietin (EPO) and increase red blood cells and hemoglobin. But, what´s the end game for these products? Athletes are looking for legal methods to enhance oxygen uptake and delivery to working muscle tissue and accelerate the removal of metabolic waste byproducts. In a word, they want improved "recovery." What´s strange is that most of these so-called EPO boosting supplements only contain an insignificant amount of iron, which is the most vital nutrient involved in the production of new oxygen carrying red blood cells. In short, if EPO is present without sufficient iron, there is insufficient fuel for red blood cell production.

Exercise at High Altitude and Iron Stores

Nutritional factors, particularly iron stores, play a critical role in an athlete´s ability to respond to high altitude or hypoxic (low oxygen) training. In a series of studies involving more than 100 competitive distance runners, 40% (60% of women and 25% of men) were found to have reduced iron stores based on a low serum ferritin level. The athletes with a low ferritin level prior to high altitude exposure (male and female) were unable to increase the volume of red blood cell mass and did not increase VO2 max or improve performance (7). Iron depletion may not only compromise oxygen carrying capacity, but also reduces VO2 max and performance, even in nonanemic athletes. Thus iron stores should be normalized before undertaking a period of high altitude or simulated altitude training.

High altitude or hypoxic training has been suggested to stimulate physiological adaptations, including increases in EPO and red blood cell levels. This enhances the body´s oxygen utilization system and increases the efficiency of cellular energy. HypOxygen can be used effectively in conjunction with all hypoxic training methods (tents, chambers, masks, etc.), and offers advantages that can considerably improve athletic training, performance, recovery and overall health.*

Prevalence of Iron Deficiency in Male Athletes

A recent 2009 study was conducted to assess the prevalence of iron deficiency in competitive male athletes. In total, 90 elite athletes practicing a variety of disciplines including judo, rowing, pentathlon and volleyball, aged 16-33 years, were studied. Iron deficiency was found in many of the subjects. Despite a lack of anemia among the studied athletes, the incidence of latent iron deficiencies (iron depletion and iron-deficient erythropoiesis) was very high (8).

Iron Status and Female Athletes

Active women with low ferritin levels were studied. After iron supplementation, VO2 max was significantly greater, blood lactate decreased and endurance time to exhaustion increased (9).* In another study, non-anaemic female adults were supplemented with iron, vitamin C and folic acid for a number of days. VO2 max and ATP production significantly increased and improved physical work capacity (10).*

There is an overwhelming amount of research data that supports the effectiveness of the ingredients in HypOxygen. This science-based formulation provides a wide range of potential benefits for men and women from everyday fitness enthusiasts to world-class athletes.

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