Vitality Unleashed: The Functional Medicine Podcast

Saving Sight: Inside the Science of Ozone Treatment

• Dr. Kumar from LifeWellMD.com • Season 1 • Episode 95

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Dive into the fascinating world of innovative therapies for age-related macular degeneration as we explore a potential breakthrough for the millions suffering from this sight-threatening condition. What happens when carefully controlled oxidative stress becomes the catalyst for healing? The answer challenges everything we thought we knew about treating degenerative eye disease.

The spotlight falls on ozone therapy—specifically a method called major autohemotherapy—which shows remarkable promise for the dry form of macular degeneration affecting nearly 10 million Americans. We unpack the science behind this treatment that works through a seemingly paradoxical mechanism: introducing a precisely calculated amount of oxidative stress to activate the body's own powerful antioxidant defenses.

At the heart of this therapy lies an elegant biological pathway. When blood is treated with medical-grade ozone outside the body, it triggers the release of "messenger molecules" that activate the Nrf2 pathway—essentially flipping the master switch for over 200 protective genes. This cascade supercharges the body's production of antioxidant enzymes precisely where they're needed most: in the delicate tissues of the macula with its extraordinarily high oxygen demands.

The clinical results shared are truly striking. While conventional vitamin treatments showed limited effectiveness, patients receiving ozone therapy experienced not just stabilization but actual improvement in vision. Most remarkably, none of the ozone-treated patients lost significant vision over a 12-month period, while 40% in the vitamin control group experienced substantial decline. For a condition with no FDA-approved treatments, these findings represent a beacon of hope worth investigating further.

Could this therapeutic approach that harnesses the body's own healing mechanisms have applications beyond eye health? The research suggests similar principles might apply to other conditions driven by oxidative stress and inflammation. Connect with Dr. Kumar's team at LifeWellMD by calling 561-210-9999 to learn more about evidence-informed approaches that could transform your health journey.

Disclaimer:
The information provided in this podcast is for educational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. Always consult with a qualified healthcare professional before making changes to your supplement regimen or health routine. Individual needs and reactions vary, so it’s important to make informed decisions with the guidance of your physician.

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Stay Informed, Stay Healthy:
Remember, informed choices lead to better health. Until next time, be well and take care of yourself.

Speaker 1:

Welcome back to the Deep Dive. You know this is where we take the sources you send our way Could be articles, research papers, notes and we really try to cut through the noise.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, our job is basically to find those key insights, maybe the surprising details, and help you get up to speed fast.

Speaker 1:

Think of us as expert guides, really digging into the material you give us to figure out what's most important in that data. And today, well, we've got a topic that came from a listener question. Actually.

Speaker 2:

Yeah.

Speaker 1:

All the way from Denver Colorado.

Speaker 2:

Oh great, what was the question?

Speaker 1:

They were curious about innovative approaches, potential ones for dry age-related macular degeneration, ARMD, and they specifically asked about something called ozone therapy.

Speaker 2:

Ah, ozone therapy. Yes, that's definitely an area people ask about. It's fascinating and to look into this specific question using the source material we got, we've actually been working with Dr Kumar and his team over at LifeWellMDcom.

Speaker 1:

LifeWellMD right. They focus on health, wellness, longevity, always looking at new, evidence-informed options, aren't they?

Speaker 2:

Exactly Trying to find ways to potentially help patients improve their well-being, their health span. So this deep dive fits right into that kind of exploration they do Okay, so what's our main source for this exploration?

Speaker 2:

We're focusing on a specific review paper. It's titled Visual Improvement Following Ozona Therapy in Dry Age-Related Macular Degeneration a review Dry Age-Related Macular Degeneration a review. The authors are Borelli and Bocci and it was published in AHD Ophthalmology back in 2013. 2030. Okay, so our mission today unpack this specific paper Right. Understand what suggests about ozone therapy for dry ARMD. Look at the mechanisms they propose, the clinical findings they report. Basically see what insights this particular source holds.

Speaker 1:

Okay, let's get into it Before we even talk about potential solutions. This paper makes it clear that dry ARMD is a really big deal. Can you lay out just how common it is and why it's such a concern?

Speaker 2:

Absolutely. The source really emphasizes that ARMD is a growing problem, particularly, you know, as populations age. Yeah, it estimates that it affects about 25 percent of people over 65. That's one in four and it's a major cause of significant vision loss, even blindness. The paper throws out some big numbers like 250,000 affected in the UK, maybe close to 10 million in the USA.

Speaker 1:

Wow, 10 million in the US alone, that's huge.

Speaker 2:

It really is, and you know, armd comes in two main flavors. There's the wet form, which is actually less common, and then there's the dry or atrophic form. That's the one this review is all about, and it accounts for almost 90 percent of all cases 90 percent, so the vast majority.

Speaker 1:

What does that dry form actually look like clinically speaking? According to the source?

Speaker 2:

Well, the paper details the classic signs you get these yellowish deposits under the retina. They're called drusen. Drusen okay, right. Plus, you see pigment clumping, changes in a really important layer called the retinal pigment epithelium, the RPE, and eventually areas where the tissue just wastes away, known as geographic ashen free.

Speaker 1:

And for the patient, what does that mean?

Speaker 2:

Usually it means a slow, gradual loss of that sharp central vision, often over many years. It might start with like blurry spots or blind spots right in the middle of what they're looking at.

Speaker 1:

You mentioned the RPE. The source seems to put a lot of weight on that layer. What is it and why is it so critical here?

Speaker 2:

Oh, the RPE is absolutely crucial. Think of it like the support crew for the photoreceptors, the cells that actually detect light. It sits right between those photoreceptors and the blood vessels underneath in the choroid.

Speaker 1:

Like a middleman.

Speaker 2:

Kind of yeah. It manages waste products, recycles essential molecules for vision, transports nutrients. It does a lot. And the macula, especially that tiny central pit called the foveola, where our vision is sharpest, it has the highest oxygen demand of any tissue in the body the highest wow. Yeah, and it completely depends on that blood supply from the choroid delivered via the RPE. So the paper points out if that area gets starved of oxygen, even for a short time, those critical vision cells start to die off.

Speaker 1:

So it's like a double hit. The RPE itself is degenerating, messing up nutrient delivery and waste cleanup, and the area has these incredibly high oxygen needs that aren't being met.

Speaker 2:

That's exactly it, and the paper suggests this breakdown is driven by a nasty mix of things bursts of free radicals, damage from calcium ions, maybe glutamate toxicity, certainly chronic inflammation and just intense oxidative stress. They even mention a link to high C-reactive protein levels in the blood, which points right back to that inflammation.

Speaker 1:

Okay Now you mentioned the wet form earlier, that one does have treatments like injections, right? How does that compare to what this source says about dry ARMD?

Speaker 2:

Yeah, that's a key difference. The wet form involves abnormal blood vessel growth and those injections target that. But for dry ARMD this paper is pretty blunt. It says there is currently no effective therapy available except for the illusory oral administration of antioxidant vitamins.

Speaker 1:

Illusory. That's strong language.

Speaker 2:

It is. They do clarify these vitamins aren't harmful and they might maybe slightly slow things down after years and years of taking them, but the main point is there's a huge gap, no proven treatment to really stop or reverse the dry form. And they make another absolutely critical point.

Speaker 1:

We do.

Speaker 2:

The ozone therapy discussed in this review is only for the dry form. Explicitly the source warns it cannot be used in wet ARMD because it might actually speed up the disease process there. That distinction is vital.

Speaker 1:

Okay, vital distinction Dry form only, according to this source, and that therapeutic gap really highlights why exploring innovative ideas, like the work Dr Kumar's team does at LifeWellMD, is so important, which brings us right to the main subject ozone therapy.

Speaker 2:

Right. So the paper introduces ozonotherapy, specifically a method called major auto hemotherapy or O3-AHT, as something that had been looked at since the mid to late 90s. It does acknowledge right up front that there's been skepticism about it in the wider medical world Understood.

Speaker 1:

So, according to this review paper, what's the actual goal of using O3-AHT for dry air? Md?

Speaker 2:

The authors state the aim isn't necessarily a cure, but to try and stop or at least slow down the natural downhill course of the disease and hopefully improve the patient's quality of life in the process. They are careful to note, though, that it might not fully bring back vision that's already been lost completely. It's more about preserving what's left and potentially improving function.

Speaker 1:

OK, slowing or stopping progression, improving quality of life. So the big question how might it actually work? This is where the paper gets into some pretty complex biochemistry, isn't it?

Speaker 2:

It does, yeah, but it lays out a really interesting hypothesis. It starts with what happens when you mix that medical grade oxygenazone gas mixture with the patient's blood outside the body. Okay, the ozone O3, dissolves super quickly and immediately reacts within minutes with things like antioxidants and unsaturated fatty acids in the blood plasma and on cell membranes.

Speaker 1:

And that reaction creates something else.

Speaker 2:

Exactly it generates what the paper calls key messengers. Two main times are highlighted Hydrogen peroxide, h2o2. Yes, the same stuff you might have in your medicine cabinet, but in tiny, controlled amounts here. And a group of reactive molecules called aldehydes and alkanols, like one called 4-H-N-E.

Speaker 1:

So ozone itself isn't the direct actor, it's these things it creates.

Speaker 2:

That's the idea presented. They describe ozone acting almost like a pro-drug. It kicks off the process, but the downstream effects come from these messengers it generates.

Speaker 1:

Okay, let's break that down. What are these messengers supposed to do according to the paper? Let's start with the hydrogen peroxide.

Speaker 2:

Okay. So the hypothesis is that this small amount of H2O2 gets into red blood cells. Once inside, it activates a process called glycolysis, which bumps up ATP production energy for the cell. But, crucially, it also significantly boosts something called 243-defosphoglycerate or 243-DPG 243-DPG.

Speaker 1:

Why is that important here?

Speaker 2:

Ah, this is key for oxygen delivery. You see, increased 2003-DPG makes hemoglobin, the protein-tearing oxygen in red blood cells, less sticky to oxygen. It shifts what's called the oxyhemoglobin dissociation curve to the right.

Speaker 1:

Less sticky, so it lets go of oxygen more easily.

Speaker 2:

Exactly, especially in tissues that are struggling for oxygen, like an ischemic macula. So the proposed benefit is better oxygen release right where it's desperately needed.

Speaker 1:

Okay, improving oxygen supply, that makes a lot of sense for a tissue that's starved of it. Now, what about those other messengers, the alkanols you said? Ozone creates oxidative stress, which sounds bad, especially in a disease linked to oxidative stress.

Speaker 2:

It does sound counterintuitive absolutely, but the paper frames it very specifically. It says these alkanols are produced in very small, calculated amounts. They call it a calculated and well-tolerated oxidative stress.

Speaker 1:

Calculated stress.

Speaker 2:

That's actually a pretty good analogy the paper hints at. You know, stressing your muscles makes them stronger. The idea here is that this small controlled oxidative signal is meant to activate the body's own powerful defense systems.

Speaker 1:

Okay, so how does that signal work?

Speaker 2:

Well, these alkanols travel through the bloodstream, often attached to proteins like albumin. The paper proposes that when they get inside cells, they interact with a protein called KEEP1.

Speaker 1:

KEEP1. And what happens then?

Speaker 2:

This is where a really critical defense pathway gets switched on. Normally, KEEP1 acts like a leash on another molecule called NRF2, keeping it inactive. But when these alkanols bind KEEP1, it's like they cut the leash.

Speaker 1:

So NRF2 is set free.

Speaker 2:

Exactly. Nrf2 is then free to travel into the cell's nucleus, the command center.

Speaker 1:

Right, and what does NRF2 do in the nucleus?

Speaker 2:

Once inside, NRF2 binds to specific sections of DNA called antioxidant response elements, or AREs. The paper calls this binding the crucial event.

Speaker 1:

The crucial event. Why? What's the result?

Speaker 2:

This binding acts like flipping a master switch it dramatically stimulates the production, the upregulation of around 200 different genes. And these aren't just any genes. They're the genes responsible for making the cells own powerful protective arsenal.

Speaker 1:

Like what kind of protection?

Speaker 2:

Things like potent antioxidant enzymes, sod, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, gsh, piaquexis, also phase two detoxification enzymes and an enzyme called hemeoxygenase 1, which they describe as being highly protective against cellular stress.

Speaker 1:

Wow, so let me see if I've got this. The hypothesis outlined in the paper is introduce a tiny controlled bit of oxidative stress using these ozone generated alkanols, which then triggers this NRF2 pathway, leading the body to ramp up production of its own mass of antioxidant and protective defenses, defenses that can then fight back against the chronic oxidative stress and inflammation that's actually causing the damage in dry ARMD.

Speaker 2:

That's precisely the core mechanism they detail. It's about stimulating your own body's defenses to counteract the disease process, and the source also mentioned some other potential pluses, like making blood flow a bit better, helping blood vessels relax by boosting nitric oxide and maybe releasing some growth factors from platelets. It's presented as a multi-pronged effect.

Speaker 1:

That is a fascinating theory, really complex, but fascinating. Okay, theory is one thing. What about results? The paper talks about actual clinical findings from two studies they did at the University of Siena. What did they report seeing in patients?

Speaker 2:

Right the clinical data. The first study they discussed ran from 1996 to 2001, involving 77 patients. They compared a group getting the ozone therapy, o3-aht, for at least two years against a control group. Now the control group got their own blood treated just with oxygen, not ozone.

Speaker 1:

Okay, so oxygenated blood versus ozonated blood? What was the outcome?

Speaker 2:

Well, first they noted the oxygen-only group didn't really show much benefit. But for the ozone therapy group they reported a statistically significant difference in visual acuity improvement Improvement.

Speaker 1:

How much?

Speaker 2:

They defined improvement as gaining more than two lines on the ETDRS eye chart. That's like being able to read two extra lines of smaller letters and they found 66.6 percent. So two-thirds of the ozone therapy group reached this level of improvement.

Speaker 1:

Two-thirds Okay Compared to.

Speaker 2:

Compared to just 30.4 percent in the oxygen-only control group. So a pretty big difference reported there. They also mentioned that lab tests for the treated group either stayed the same or actually improved.

Speaker 1:

Hmm, interesting. What about the second study?

Speaker 2:

The second one was larger 140 patients and ran from 2008 to 2011. This time they compared the ozone therapy group 70 patients against a control group taking standard antioxidant multivitamins, also 70 patients.

Speaker 1:

OK, ozone versus vitamins. How did the vision changes compare over time in this one?

Speaker 2:

They used a different vision scale here, Logmar, but the trend was similar. The paper reported that the average vision in the ozone-treated eyes actually showed improvement over both 6 months and 12 months.

Speaker 1:

Improvement, not just slowing the decline.

Speaker 2:

That's what their average data showed. Yes, In stark contrast, the control group taking the multivitamins, their average vision actually got worse. It deteriorated over that same six and 12-month period.

Speaker 1:

Wow, okay, that's one thing, but what about, like, preventing significant vision loss? Did they look at that?

Speaker 2:

They did, and this data as presented in the paper is quite striking. Did they look at that? They did, and this data as presented in the paper is quite striking. According to their results, none zero of the eyes treated with ozone showed a worsening of vision by more than two lines on the eye chart at either six months or 12 months.

Speaker 1:

None lost that much vision.

Speaker 2:

Correct. Compare that to the multivitamin control group. At 12 months, 40% of those patients had lost more than two lines of vision and 38% had lost more than three lines.

Speaker 1:

The difference between the groups was highly statistically significant, according to the pager. Okay, hold on. Nobody in the ozone group lost two lines, but 40% in the vitamin group did. That seems really significant based on their report.

Speaker 2:

It really stands out in their findings. Yes, it aligns well with that stated goal of trying to stop or slow the disease progression. Yes, it aligns well with that stated goal of trying to stop or slow the disease progression. And, interestingly, they also measured markers of oxidative stress in the blood in this second study and they found that plasma oxidative stress decreased in the group treated with ozone, which lends some support to that whole mechanism. We talked about boosting antioxidant defenses.

Speaker 1:

Did they mention anything else like how patients felt they?

Speaker 2:

did Beyond the eye charts? The source says that patients in the ozone group assessed using boosting antioxidant defenses. Did they mention anything else like how patients felt they did Beyond the eye charts? The source says that patients in the ozone group assessed using a standard vision-related quality of life questionnaire also reported subjective improvements, things like feeling better overall, having more energy, better concentration, even improved memory.

Speaker 1:

Potential wider benefits maybe Interesting. So okay, let's talk practicalities. How is this O3 auto-hemotherapy actually done? What does the paper describe?

Speaker 2:

Right the procedure as they outline it. It involves drawing a specific amount of the patient's own blood, usually somewhere between 150 and 225 milliliters, depending on body weight. Then they add an anticoagulant like heparin or citrate to stop it clotting. Next, that blood is gently mixed with a very precise volume of the oxigenazone gas mixture. This is done using a certified medical ozone generator, and the ozone concentration is carefully measured and controlled, often using a spectrophotometer.

Speaker 1:

Precision seems key there.

Speaker 2:

Absolutely crucial. The paper emphasizes that, After mixing for a few minutes, the treated blood is then simply re-infused back into the patient's vein like a standard IV drip.

Speaker 1:

And you said patient's own blood.

Speaker 2:

Yes, 100%. The source stresses it must be autologous, using only the patient's own blood. They describe the procedure, when done correctly with these small, precise, precise ozone doses and medical-grade equipment, as absolutely safe. The safety, they argue, comes from the precision and the fact that it's your own blood going back in.

Speaker 1:

Okay, how often do people need to do this according to the paper?

Speaker 2:

Typically they mention starting with treatments twice a week for an initial phase, maybe around nine or ten weeks. They also note that patients often start noticing some improvement after about four to six treatments. After that initial birth Then maintenance therapy is needed. The paper suggests at least once every 10 days or so to maintain the effects.

Speaker 1:

Why the need for ongoing maintenance?

Speaker 2:

Well, they explain that the biochemical effects triggered by the treatment seem to have a rather short memory. As they put it, If you stop the treatments completely, the benefits tend to wear off, usually within about six to nine months.

Speaker 1:

So it sounds like it requires a pretty consistent commitment from the patient.

Speaker 2:

It definitely does. But the paper makes a point of saying that patient compliance tends to be quite high once they start seeing positive results because you know they feel it's working. They also make a point of mentioning the minimal cost compared to some other potential therapies being researched.

Speaker 1:

Right, OK, so let's try and wrap this up. This Borelli and Bochy review gives us a detailed look at the theory, the proposed mechanism and some clinical findings they reported regarding ozone therapy for dry ARMD. From their perspective, what's the main takeaway message?

Speaker 2:

I think their core conclusion centers on what they see as ozonotherapy's unique ability, what they see as ozonotherapy's unique ability, specifically via this O3-AHT method, to basically wake up the body's own built-in defense systems, systems that fight against the kind of damage, the lack of oxygen, the neurotoxicity that drives dry ARMD. So by improving oxygen delivery and boosting those internal antioxidant enzymes. Right, the goal is to try and stop those precious photoreceptor cells from dying off.

Speaker 1:

And they had that point about when to start treatment too, didn't they?

Speaker 2:

Yes, that seemed important. In their observations they noted that the improvements in vision were generally more noticeable and happened faster in patients who started treatment when they still had some vision left, even if it was already declining, compared to patients who were already nearly blind. Which suggests it strongly suggests, based on their findings, that starting treatment earlier, before a massive cell death has occurred, is likely to be more beneficial, getting there before the damage is too extensive.

Speaker 1:

So this whole deep dive sparked by that listener question from Denver really explores the possibility and we stress possibility based on this source that innovative approaches like ozone therapy might offer a potential avenue for conditions like dry ARMD, supported by research like this review paper.

Speaker 2:

Exactly, and you know that's precisely the kind of exploration that clinics like LifeWellMDcom engage in as part of Dr Kumar's team. Their focus is on health, wellness and longevity, and they are constantly looking at the science, evaluating evidence-informed approaches much like the research we've just discussed to see how they might help patients improve their overall health and, importantly, their health span.

Speaker 1:

It's really about staying informed on the cutting-edge research, understanding the potential mechanisms, like the NRF2 pathway we talked about, and then seeing what options might make sense for an individual, based on their specific needs and the current state of evidence.

Speaker 2:

Definitely so. If you, the listener, are curious about the kind of research we've covered today, or if you have questions about innovative approaches for your own health journey maybe related to macular degeneration, maybe something else entirely connecting with the team at LifeWellMDcom could be a really worthwhile step.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, they can talk through your specific situation, look at your health goals and help you understand how they might explore possibilities with you, drawing on the latest research and their clinical expertise.

Speaker 2:

We really encourage you, if this resonates, to maybe take that first step on your personal wellness journey. You can give them a call. The number is 561-210-9999.

Speaker 1:

561-210-9999.

Speaker 2:

It's a chance to connect with professionals who are dedicated to exploring innovative, evidence-informed options to help you optimize your health.

Speaker 1:

It really is. It's about having a conversation with a team that looks seriously at the possibilities presented by research and works with you to figure out what might be appropriate for your unique health picture. You know, diving deep into sources like this 2013 review reminds us that there's always more going on beneath the surface, doesn't it? Insights often missed in just the headlines or general health info. And maybe a final thought to leave you with something provocative based on this paper Just consider that core idea that a carefully controlled dose of something we normally think of as bad, like oxidative stress, could actually be harnessed therapeutically, that it could trigger the body's own powerful healing and protective systems.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, or maybe think even broader, building on the mechanisms they described. The review actually mentions potential relevance to other eye conditions involving degeneration or lack of blood flow, things like degenerative myopia, diabetic retinopathy, even retinitis pigmentosa, stargardt's disease, ischemic optic neuropathies, maybe glaucoma. Could similar approaches activating these defense pathways be relevant? There, too, something to ponder.

Speaker 1:

Definitely food for thought. Well, thank you for joining us on this deep dive into the potential of ozone therapy for dry ARMD, as presented in the Borelli and Bocci review and explored with the perspective of Dr Kumar's team at LifeWellMD.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, we really hope this exploration has been informative and maybe sparked some new questions for you.

Speaker 1:

And we will see you on the next deep dive.