In today’s fast paced fitness world everyone is trying to become the next super athlete and everyone is trying to get there in the shortest amount of time possible. Everyone wants to be like somebody but only better. The want to win and win often is higher than ever. An example, when Arnold Schwarzenegger appeared in the mainstream media, everyone wanted to be a bodybuilder. How did he achieve such success? How is he that big? The Austrian Oak didn’t get to where he was off hopes and dreams. He trained hard and often and with the help of some now banned substances, he became one of the most successful and popular bodybuilders of all time. Since the synthetic hormones were banned in 1976 (1) by World Anti-Doping Association (WADA), a new age of endless ergogenic aids have surfaced, fallen, been reformulated and fallen again.
This current study takes a closer look at the claims of a popular ergogenic aid called Oxydrene which is manufactured and distributed by a company called Novex Biotech. Oxydrene , like many other ergogenic aids, is one of great controversy. With this supplement come many bold claims that to any exercise physiologist seem unlikely. Some of these claims include increase in VO2max, increased O2 Blood saturation, increased fat utilization etc. Such bold claims are usually brushed off by most. But still the question arises, how, what, and why are these claims being made? With the oxygen saturation of arteriole blood (SaO2) in normal healthy humans being 97-98% a claim to increase the saturation past this point seems merely impossible. The reasons for this will be discussed in greater detail later in this paper. Oxydrene has a 202 mg blend of three herbs, Rhodiola Rosea, Eleuthero (Root) Extract, and Schisandra Chinensis . the first ingredient Rhodiola Rosea is a popular adaptogen used in many varieties of herbal supplement blends. It’s primary focus is that of mood elevating and