Ozone acting on human blood yields a hormetic dose-response relationship

The aim of this paper is to analyze why ozone can be medically useful when it dissolves in blood or in other biological fluids. In reviewing a number of clinical studies performed in Peripheral Arterial Diseases (PAD) during the last decades, it has been possible to confirm the long-held view that the inverted U-shaped curve, typical of the hormesis concept, is suitable to represent the therapeutic activity exerted by the so-called ozonated autohemotherapy. The quantitative and qualitative aspects of human blood ozonation have been also critically reviewed in regard to the biological, therapeutic and safety of ozone. It is hoped that this gas, although toxic for the pulmonary system during prolonged inhalation, will be soon recognized as a useful agent in oxidative-stress related diseases, joining other medical gases recently thought to be of therapeutic importance. Finally, the elucidation of the mechanisms of action of ozone as well as the obtained results in PAD may encourage clinical scientists to evaluate ozone therapy in vascular diseases in comparison to the current therapies

A physicochemical investigation on the effects of ozone on blood

Ozonation of either human whole blood or saline-washed erythrocytes causes considerable damage to the latter and this result has opened a controversy.With the benefit of hindsight, it appears logical that once erythrocytes are deprived of the potent antioxidants of plasma, they become very sensitive to the oxidant effects of ozone. The aim of the presentworkwas to perform a physical–chemical evaluation of some critical parameters able to clarify this issue.We have ascertained that when whole blood is exposed to the appropriate ozone doses used in human therapy, no damage ensues while saline-washed erythrocytes undergo conspicuous haemolysis. The dogma that ozone is always toxic is incorrect because its reactivity below the concentration of 80 mg/L can be controlled by the plasmatic antioxidant system