How Human Biology Creates Hydrogen Peroxide

Oxidation Microscope

How human biology creates hydrogen peroxide is fascinating. This article is a general overview to the best of our understanding.

Our products are NOT intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent disease and this must not be interpreted as medical advise.

Detecting Hydrogen Peroxide In Blood And Plasma

The levels of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) in human blood is of great relevance as it has emerged as an important signalling molecule in a variety of disease states. Scientist have been working on reliable ways to measure hydrogen peroxide levels in the blood. Although challenging advancements in a laser-induced fluorescence device has demonstrated rapid measurement of H2O2 in plasma in the concentration range of 0–49 µM, and detection time of 15 min; the device is amenable to the real-time measurement of H2O2 in a patient’s blood. (1)

H2O2 concentration in the blood of healthy individuals is found to be in the range of 0.8–6 µM. Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) is one of the important ROS which is produced due to the incomplete reduction of oxygen in the metabolism process and most cells in the human body generate H2O2 from superoxide. H2O2 is uncharged and stable in aqueous solution and its uncharged nature helps it to diffuse across the cell membrane, enabling cellular signalling away from the site of production.

illness comes in many forms disease vs a cold or flu, H2O2 has been measured in the urine of patients who are showing signs of a cold as high as 100ppm. We look forward to conducting our research if or when that time comes using our 0-400ppm H2O2 test strips. H2O2 has a longer lifespan than other reactive oxidizing agent which allows a greater diffusion level of up to a few millimeters. H2O2 which is diffused out of a cell triggers cell migration, immunity generation, and cellular communication. 2

Blood cells including red blood cells produce H2O2 from multiple sources but the level of intracellular H2O2 is maintained as 10 nM or less due to the catalase and peroxidases1. The plasma H2O2 is mainly contributed by NOXs (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate oxidase) on the surface of phagocytes and endothelial cells and xanthine oxidase bound to endothelial cells with a small contribution from autoxidation of small molecules. 3

Respiratory Burst

The human body uses a biologic process called the respiratory burst to generate hydrogen peroxide in the immune system. The respiratory burst is a rapid increase in the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), including hydrogen peroxide, by phagocytic cells such as neutrophils and macrophages.

Triggering Phagocytic Immune Cells

The respiratory burst is triggered by the activation of phagocytic cells by pathogens or other foreign invaders. Once activated, the phagocytic cell engulfs the pathogen in a phagosome. The phagosome then fuses with a lysosome, which releases enzymes that kill the pathogen. The respiratory burst also produces ROS, which help to kill the pathogen and prevent it from escaping from the phagosome.Hover me to open tooltip

The respiratory burst is mediated by a group of enzymes called NADPH oxidases (NOXs). NOXs use NADPH to produce superoxide, which is then converted to hydrogen peroxide by superoxide dismutase (SOD). Hydrogen peroxide can then be used by other enzymes to produce other ROS, such as hydroxyl radicals.

Hydrogen peroxide is a powerful antimicrobial oxidizing agent. It can oxidize bacteria, viruses, and other pathogens by damaging their DNA and proteins. Hydrogen peroxide also plays a role in cell signaling and inflammation.

Here is a simplified summary of the respiratory burst process:

  1. Phagocytic cell is activated by a pathogen or other foreign invader.
  2. Phagocytic cell engulfs the pathogen in a phagosome.
  3. Phagosome fuses with a lysosome, which releases enzymes that kill the pathogen.
  4. NADPH oxidases produce superoxide, which is then converted to hydrogen peroxide by SOD.
  5. Hydrogen peroxide can then be used by other enzymes to produce other ROS.
  6. Hydrogen peroxide and other ROS kill the pathogen and prevent it from escaping from the phagosome.

The respiratory burst is an important part of the human body’s immune system response. It helps to protect us from infection by destroying harmful pathogens.

Vitamin C And Hydrogen Peroxide vs Cancer

Researchers have found that a highly concentrated vitamin C dose is “selectively” toxic to cancer cells effectively destroying them leaving healthy tissue unharmed.

Research shows that cancer cells produce energy primary through an anaerobic process. Anaerobic energy production thrives in a low oxygen environment. Poor cell respiration causes low oxygen levels in the cells. Research has found this is the reason cancer thrives on sugar. Using the sugar as an energy source. Yet when this treatment was coupled with the addition of catalase (an enzyme), the cancer-killing effect was reduced significantly. This led researchers to believe that the high-dose vitamin C infusion resulted in production of large quantities of hydrogen peroxide, which initially caused a cancer-killing effect that was then neutralized by the catalase.

Researchers lconcluded that cancer cells do not produce sufficient catalase to neutralize high levels of hydrogen peroxide on their own.

We now know that many cancer cells produce small amounts of catalase to sustain low concentrations of hydrogen peroxide. This creates the cancer-friendly environment of mild oxidative stress that encourages rapid growth of and further aggression by malignant cells. Fortunately, because a high proportion of cancers are only able to produce small amounts of catalase, they’re vulnerable to the cancer-killing effect exhibited by high levels of hydrogen peroxide.

A high dose and rapid IV infusion of vitamin C reacts spontaneously with molecular oxygen within tumors, generating large amounts of hydrogen peroxide, lethal to tumor cells that produce only small amounts of catalase.

Research has demonstrated that doses of 10 to 20 grams would need to be administered to consistently achieve  a  vitamin-C concentration sufficient to provoke oxidation at level adequate to effect tumor cells beneficially.

A number of published case reports, which show that repeated high-dose IV treatments yield objective tumor regression, are so compelling that NIH clinical trials are formally evaluating intravenous vitamin C therapy. Currently, we continue to look at dosing and treatment intervals as studies suggest that multiple, staged, and intermittent treatments may produce better anti-tumor effects than long high-dose single treatments. This will also protect the kidneys from becoming saturated. At Oasis of Hope we’re utilizing protocols with multiple treatments and pauses between doses to maintain the level of vitamin C within an optimal therapeutic window.

In theory, high-dose vitamin C should not cause toxic damage to healthy tissue because the body produces sufficient amounts of catalase to efficiently neutralize the hydrogen peroxide produced. Our experience supports the theory. We’ve treated hundreds of patients in this manner with no side effects, and our current protocol ensures vitamin-C blood and tissue levels that are safe and effective to kill cancer cells.

Yet a burning question remains. Why doesn’t this therapy work for everyone? Three variables can undermine its effectiveness.

First, some tumors produce larger amounts of catalase, which neutralizes the oxidizing effect of hydrogen peroxide.

Second, sometimes there are insufficient catalysts to promote the necessary transfer of electrons.

Third, sometimes in the extracellular space there is insufficient oxygen, which is needed for vitamin C to produce hydrogen peroxide.

For now, scientists have not found a way to selectively block production of catalase within tumors. However, we can definitively increase this therapy’s effectiveness by providing two supporting agents: electron transfer catalysts and tumor oxygenating agents.

Specific Benefits: Vitamins C and K3

Vitamin C’s ability to generate hydrogen peroxide in tumors hinges on the presence of catalysts that can transfer electrons from the vitamin to oxygen molecules, generating an unstable compound superoxide, which rapidly converts to the hydrogen peroxide that has cancer-killing properties.

One such well-known catalyst is menadione, also known as vitamin K3 . Substantial research in both rodent and human studies demonstrates that supplementing intravenous vitamin C with injectable vitamin K3 increases the therapy’s effectiveness on cancer cells.

A vitamin C/K3 combination can interact synergistically with certain cytotoxic chemo drugs in killing cancer cells. Vitamin K3 alone can increase the cytotoxicity of certain chemo agents, presumably because, in sufficiently high concentrations, K3 help generate oxidative stress by transferring electrons from intracellular molecules to oxygen.

At the Oasis of Hope we inject vitamin K3 just prior to the vitamin C infusions, with the hope and expectation that C/K3 combination will markedly increase the production of hydrogen peroxide within tumors, enabling a more substantial cell kill in those cancers that produce sufficiently small amounts of catalase.

While vitamin K3 is an excellent electron transfer catalyst, the effectiveness of intravenous vitamin C therapy can still be crippled if oxygen levels within the tumor are poor. (Remember: Many common tumors create a hypoxic environment, so it’s necessary to introduce agents that can efficiently oxygenate them.)

Oxygen In The Muscles

cell respiration

How Low Oxygen Contributes To Fatigue

Oxygen is used in so many process in the body.  Every cell in the body contains mitochondria that uses oxygen to convert glucose (sugar) into energy. This process is called cell respiration.

When oxygen  falls below optimal levels such as during exercise or physical exertion normal aerobic cell respiration will switch to a less efficient method of converting glucose to energy called lactic acid fermentation. This is a type of anaerobic cell respiration which does not require oxygen. Continue reading “Oxygen In The Muscles”

Petri Dish On A Stick Your Toothbrush!

3% Hydrogen Peroxide, awesome.  A recent government shutdown scare here in the Pacific Northwest Washington and the looming threat of discontinuing the support for disease outbreak lead me to a study regarding the efficacy of different disinfection agents on toothbrushes.

50 kids age 8-11 were enrolled and their brushes tested over a 28 day period. Common bacteria, virus and fungi found on toothbrushes were Continue reading “Petri Dish On A Stick Your Toothbrush!”

Quenching Chlorination D.B.P.’s With Hydrogen Peroxide

Hydrogen Peroxide Reduces Chlorine Disinfection By-Product Formation In Drinking Water.

Most public water is treated with chlorine. The number one reason we want you to know about our company is to ensure you and your family have access to safe clean water. We need plenty of water to drink, shower and bathe.

During showering our bodies can absorb up to Continue reading “Quenching Chlorination D.B.P.’s With Hydrogen Peroxide”