OZONE THERAPY
The Role of Oxygen in Metabolism
BIOCHEMISTRY IS ORGANIC CHEMISTRY

Occurs in living tissues and with a more finite array
of reactions. A few of those to be addressed here:

Acid + Alcohol
------------------------------->
Ester + HOH

HYDROLYSIS =

Condensation = combining two reactants and excluding HOH

Transamination = transferring and amine (-NH2) from one
carbon chain to another

Deamination = removal of the -NH2 from a carbon chain

REDOX = Oxidation-Reduction (very important in cellular
respiration)

De-carboxylation = removal of CO2 from the carboxyl group of
an organic acid
“splitting via water”
GUIDE TO REACTION SYMBOLS

Hydrolysis

Condensation (dehydration)

Carboxylation

De-carboxylation

Oxidation

Reduction
THE SPEED (AND/OR) DIRECTION OF A
BIOLOGICAL REACTION

may be influenced by any one, or a combination,
of the following:

Temperature

pH (H+ conc.)

Enzymes involved

Metabolic requirement of the cell

Concentration of substrate

Nature of the SUBSTRATE and REACTANTS
TERMINOLOGY AND SYNONYMS:

EMDEN-MEYERHOFF = EM = GLYCOLYSIS
(occurs in the cytosol) Reducing agent is oxidized

KREBS CYCLE = CITRIC ACID CYCLE =
Tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle (occurs in the matrix
of the mitochondria)

ELECTRON TRANSPORT SYSTEM = ETS
(occurs in the inner-mitochondrial membrane)
KEEP IN MIND:

Glycolysis occurs in the cytosol

TCA occurs in the mitochondrial matrix

Overall process (RESPIRATION) is influenced
by:
Availability of substrate
 Metabolic requirements of cell (Demands of the
TCA)
 AVAILABILITY OF OXYGEN

GLYCEROL, FATTY ACIDS, AND
TRIGLYCERIDES
ESTERIFICATION REACTION
KETOSIS
Accumulation of KETONE BODIES as a result of incomplete fat
metabolism and oxygen deficit. The Primary KETONE BODIES
associated with KETOSIS:

Acetone

Acetoacetic Acid

Beta Hydroxyl Butyric Acid
(ketogenic)
REDOX REACTIONS ALWAYS PROCEED
TOGETHER:

Oxidizing agent is reduced

Reducing agent is oxidized
VARIOUS EXPRESSIONS OF OXIDATION AND
REDUCTION
OXIDATION
Loss of electrons
 Addition of oxygen
 Gain of Protons
 Loss of H+ ions

REDUCTION
Gain of electrons
 Loss of oxygen
 Loss of Protons
 Gain of H+ ions

REDOX EXAMPLE

Oxidation of an alcohol to an acid and the
reduction of an acid to an alcohol. (Aldehydes
are intermediate products of the reaction)
TCA - FUNCTIONS IN THE
MITOCHONDRIAL MATRIX



CO2 diffuses out as a waste
H+ diffuses to the inner-membrane space
Electrons (e- ) passed along ETS to molecular
oxygen
ACETYL COA ENTERS THE TCA AND
OXIDIZED COMPLETELY

CO2 - diffuses out

Electrons

- ETS
H+ - innermembrane space
WHEN THE ENERGY DEMANDS FOR
WORK BECOME SO GREAT THAT
THE OXYGEN SUPPLY CANNOT
KEEP PACE:

NADH is “loaded” and has no place to “un-load”
(H+ accumulate)

Buffer systems can regulate pH up to a point

Eventually the ANAEROBIC THRESHHOLD will be
reached

From this point the body goes into OXYGEN-DEBT
(pyruvate becomes an H+ acceptor)
THE OXIDATION OF LACTIC ACID AND
REDUCTION OF PYRUVIC ACID
IONIZATION OF AN ORGANIC ACID
WHEN THE CAPACITY TO FORM LACTATE
(IONIZED FORM OF LACTIC) IS EXCEEDED:

Buffer system overwhelmed

H+ accumulate



Enzyme systems cease ----- outside their
optimum pH
NAD+ is reduced to NADH (has no electrical
charge)
NAD+ (“pack mule”) becomes limiting
“PACK MULES” (NAD+ NADP+ FAD+)

transport cargo (H+) to the ETS

They must “unload” to remain useful to the
NAD+/NADH ratio
NOW -- ONCE WORK ABATES AND OXYGEN
BECOMES AVAILABLE


Liver converts lactic back to pyruvic (oxidation)
NADH can unload and become available to
“reload”

H+ accumulation is reversed

pH drop is averted (acidosis avoided)

ATP formed from ADP

Energy is conserved
IF OXYGEN IS AVAILABLE (BY
WHATEVER MEANS):


Pyruvate enters the mitochondria and is
decarboxylated
Acetate (2-C) is picked up by CoAsH to form
Acetyl-CoA then to TCA
ELECTRON TRANSFER SYSTEM (ETS)

Designed to SLOW
THE FALL of
electrons (e-) to oxygen
via SEVERAL Redox
reactions rather than
ONE VIOLENT
REACTION
THE ROLE OF PEROXIDASES IN THE ETS
(Preventing the accumulation of hydrogen
peroxide)
ADENOSINE TRI-PHOSPHATE (ATP)
FORMATION OF AN ACID ANHYDRIDE BOND
INCREASING THE AVAILABILITY OF
OXYGEN:

Accelerates the regeneration of NAD+
(therefore recovery time)

Regeneration of ATP

Multitude of anabolic effects
SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS:
Based on the foregoing discussion ---- it seems
logical to assume that—
 Any mechanism which can enhance the
availability of OXYGEN to the cell would:






Delay the ANAEROBIC THRESHHOLD and the
point of oxygen debt
Reduce the stress on the cells BUFFER SYSTEM
Reduce the wasteful loss of energy from the initial
dietary source of carbon and hydrogen
Maintain the availability of NAD+ and therefore,
improve the NAD+ / NADH ratio
Enhance the healing and recovery process in cases
of injury or illness