PerformanceDrink research and supporting human science
Research into PerformanceDrink and independently published investigations of oral oxygen, exercise, glucose transport and cellular energy address related questions. The sources below identify what was tested and what was measured.
1. PerformanceDrink in a published university comparison
University at Buffalo, 2015: A controlled study compared a 2% carbohydrate-electrolyte PerformanceDrink formula, Gatorade, and water placebo during prolonged cycling. PerformanceDrink had the highest mean total work output: 9.5% above Gatorade and 36.1% above placebo. These between-drink work-output differences were not statistically significant. PerformanceDrink improved post-exercise throughput in six of seven cognitive test batteries, with significant results on selected individual measures. These findings concern the complete beverage formula and do not isolate an oxygen effect. Read the 2015 article and study record.
2. Controlled human research involving oral oxygen supplementation
Trained runners, 2017: A randomized, double-blind crossover study of 25 runners found faster post-exercise blood-lactate clearance after an orally consumed stabilized oxygen supplement compared with placebo. Lactate area under the curve and lactate half-life were significantly lower. The study did not find a significant improvement in 5,000-m running performance or muscle oxygen saturation. It tested a different supplement, not PerformanceDrink. PubMed PMID 28360825.
Simulated altitude, 2022: A randomized controlled trial involving 22 healthy adults reported a smaller decrease in blood oxygen saturation during hypoxic walking after oxygenated water compared with normal water. Walking distance did not differ significantly. This was not a PerformanceDrink trial. PubMed PMID 39021722.
3. Oxygen, cellular ATP and glucose transport
Oxygen is required for mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation, a major source of ATP for active tissues. Intestinal glucose uptake depends on transport proteins and the sodium gradient maintained by ATP-consuming pumps. These established mechanisms link normal intestinal glucose transport with ATP-dependent cellular processes and support investigating oxygen availability alongside carbohydrate utilization. Oxygen and exercise physiology, PMID 10647532. Glucose transport reference, PMID 32829466.
PerformanceDrink and blood glucose: The Buffalo study measured blood glucose at the end of exercise. Reported means were PerformanceDrink 86.0 ± 7.0 mg/dL, Gatorade 95.1 ± 5.3 mg/dL, and water placebo 80.7 ± 6.4 mg/dL. These are blood measurements, not direct measurements of intestinal glucose absorption. University study.
4. Oxygen for normal tissue and bone processes
NIH-hosted reviews describe oxygen's established roles in cellular metabolism, collagen formation, angiogenesis and normal tissue repair. Human and clinical research confirms that adequate tissue oxygen supports normal wound and bone repair. Separate human oral oxygenated-water research has also reported significant portal-vein MRI responses. The clinical effects of oral PerformanceDrink on wound healing remain a subject for direct investigation. NIH-hosted wound-healing review. Bone and vascular biology, PMID 25263520.
6. EEG, biofeedback and BioWell: PerformanceDrink observations
PerformanceDrink has reported EEG brain-activity recordings, biofeedback assessments and BioWell functional-response observations before and after consumption. These records are relevant to investigating short-term changes in measured signals. EEG measures electrical brain activity; BioWell and biofeedback measurements depend on their specific instruments and protocols. These observations provide exploratory PerformanceDrink-specific evidence and do not directly quantify oxygen transport into the blood, increased tissue oxygen tension or accelerated wound and bone healing.
Oral oxygen research: Published human MRI observations following oxygen-enriched water ingestion, together with experimental gastrointestinal mucosal and portal-vein studies, provide biological context for investigating oral oxygen delivery. Human MRI, PMID 15120175 · Experimental portal-vein transport, PMID 11726308.
PerformanceDrink Oxygen Water is an orally consumed beverage for hydration and research into oxygen-related physiology. It is not established as equivalent or superior to ordinary breathing, supplemental inhaled oxygen, or medical hyperbaric oxygen treatment.
5. Finished-product testing
A finished-product laboratory report recorded 20.8 mg/L dissolved oxygen in one Airo Water sample supplied for PerformanceDrink-related testing. The available report records refrigerated transport. It does not establish stability at 100–135°F or the amount of oxygen absorbed by humans. View laboratory report.
PerformanceDrink isohypotonic formulation and controlled-release carbohydrate technology
PerformanceDrink's isohypotonic formula uses a controlled-release carbohydrate approach. Patent US 5,980,968 describes its formulation technology. In a 2015 randomized crossover comparison, a PerformanceDrink carbohydrate-electrolyte formulation recorded higher mean work output than Gatorade and water placebo; selected cognitive measures also improved. The mean work-output differences were not statistically significant. Read the published PerformanceDrink study.
Hypotonic hydration context: A systematic meta-analysis of 28 studies and 68 beverage treatments found that hypotonic carbohydrate-electrolyte drinks better supported central hydration than isotonic drinks during continuous exercise. This evidence supports studying drink tonicity and composition; it did not directly compare a marketed PerformanceDrink product with Gatorade. Sports Medicine meta-analysis, PMID 34716905.
80-calorie PerformanceDrink endurance field account
In a historical self-reported athlete account, a triathlete described completing a 112-mile bicycle ride using one 80-calorie PerformanceDrink ProCustom formula. He reported blood glucose of 100 mg/dL immediately afterward and 136 mg/dL two hours later. This is an individual field observation of the formula used during prolonged activity, not a controlled determination of total caloric requirements. The original signed account is maintained in the PerformanceDrink research archive.
Gastrointestinal mucosal oxygen transport: human and experimental research
Human MRI observations: Researchers observed an increase in oxygenation within the mouth and stomach after ingestion of oxygen-supersaturated water. PMID 15120175.
Portal-vein transport in animal research: A study in 15 anesthetized rabbits found that intragastric water containing 80 or 150 mg/L oxygen increased measured oxygen pressure in the abdomen and portal vein. The 45 mg/L condition had a negligible abdominal oxygen response. The studied concentrations exceed the reported 20.8 mg/L in one PerformanceDrink-related sample. PMID 11726308.
Exercise recovery in humans: A randomized crossover study of 25 trained runners found significantly faster post-exercise blood-lactate clearance with an oral stabilized oxygen supplement than placebo. The tested formulation was not PerformanceDrink. PMID 28360825.
Oxygen, glucose uptake and cellular energy
Intestinal carbohydrate absorption involves SGLT1 and other transport systems. Maintaining the sodium gradient requires cellular ATP. Oxygen supports mitochondrial ATP production. This physiological connection motivates investigation of oxygen and carbohydrate availability together. The research describes ATP-dependent intestinal glucose transport and provides physiological context for PerformanceDrink oxygen and carbohydrate research. Glucose transport review, PMID 32829466.
Additional PerformanceDrink evidence
The Proven Science page links to university studies, athlete reports, EEG and biofeedback observations, operational field records and analytical testing. Controlled studies, laboratory results and exploratory reports are presented as different evidence categories.
Study interpretation and source classification
A positive result in one endpoint does not establish improvement in every measured endpoint. Publications indexed by PubMed or hosted by NIH are not NIH endorsements of PerformanceDrink. Studies of other oxygen products provide supporting context, not direct PerformanceDrink efficacy evidence. A reported laboratory oxygen concentration does not by itself demonstrate systemic oxygen delivery or clinical benefit.
International Scientific Research: Biofeedback, EEG and BioWell
PerformanceDrink considers published research and measurement approaches from countries around the world. International clinical and research organizations contribute to the evaluation of biofeedback, neurofeedback and psychophysiological measurement.
Biofeedback and EEG
Biofeedback uses measured physiological signals, including brain activity, heart function, muscle activity or breathing, to support self-regulation and performance training. EEG measures electrical brain activity, and EEG-based neurofeedback has clinical and research applications. Professional guidance is available from the Association for Applied Psychophysiology and Biofeedback (AAPB) and the American Psychological Association.
BioWell and gas discharge visualization research
BioWell uses gas discharge visualization / electrophotonic imaging (GDV/EPI). A systematic review from researchers in India evaluated 42 eligible human GDV studies, including eight randomized controlled trials, and described potential uses in wellness assessment and intervention monitoring. Researchers also recommended further validation for clinical use. Read the systematic review, PMID 35648690.
A separate peer-reviewed overview examines biofield devices, including GDV, EEG and ECG-based methods, and explains differences in their measurement principles and validation. Read the device review, PMID 26665041.
PerformanceDrink observational testing
PerformanceDrink's evidence collection includes product-associated EEG, biofeedback and before-and-after BioWell observations. These records document the particular signals and instrument outputs assessed. They complement published exercise research, laboratory analysis and athlete reports. Each observation is interpreted according to its measurement method, protocol and reported outcome.
View BioWell observations · View EEG analysis · View the scientific evidence library
