Why You Want More Carbon Dioxide

1. CO₂ increases the metabolic rate — Since CO₂ promotes delivery of O to cells, we can produce more energy per molecule of glucose (~36 ATP relative to 2 ATP) using full oxidative phosphorylation (proper carb burning).

“The presence of carbon dioxide is an indicator of proper mitochondrial respiratory functioning.” ~ Ray Peat, Ph.D.

2. CO₂ improves function of Vitamin K since CO₂ concentrations determine the rate of Vit K dependent carboxylation reactions² — CO₂ activates the Vit K dependent proteins & thus assists fat soluble vitamins in fulfilling their physiological functions.

“The greater the supply of carbon dioxide, the better vitamin K can do its job.” ~ Chris Masterjohn, Ph.D.

“[V]itamin K uses [CO₂] to activate proteins that protect our heart valves and blood vessels from calcification.” ~ Chris Masterjohn, Ph.D.

CO₂ is thus important for the following Vit K functions: blood clotting, preventing soft tissue calcification, mineralizing bones and teeth, utilizing energy, and hormonal health.

3. CO₂ improves vasodilation by relaxing smooth muscles around blood vessels^3,4 — A vasodilator is a substance that causes smooth muscle to relax thus dilating the tubular passages it lines.

4. CO₂ improves gut health — You want HIGH CO₂ levels in your gut, and many people, unfortunately, have LOW CO₂ levels and HIGH O₂ levels (not what we want!)

The colonic microflora is extremely complex. And while it is near impossible to define what the ideal microbiome should look like (resident microbes are highly diverse, vary between individuals, and change with diet), recent evidence supports that colonic bacteria should be dominated by obligate anaerobic bacteria (meaning they cannot survive in high oxygen environments) that are able to benefit us by breaking down non-usable fibers.⁵

Balanced gut microbiomes are characterized by the dominance of obligate organisms, while an expansion of facultative organisms (bacteria that can survive in high O₂ environments) is a common marker of gut dysbiosis.

Thus, the inside of the colon should be a low oxygen and high CO₂ environment to ensure we have dominance of obligate anaerobes that can breakdown complex carbs and provide our cells with short chain fatty acids, and lower levels of facultative organisms since these facultative anaerobic bacteria do not specialize in consuming fiber and might even interfere with host nutrition.

So, maintaining a low oxygen and high CO₂ environment helps keep the microbiome in check. The internal environment of our body impacts how our body functions.

5. CO₂ improves calcium utilization⁶ — When CO₂ exits the cell, it brings with it free water and calcium,⁷ lowering cellular bulk water. It is toxic to have persistent intracellular calcium, and you want as little free water as possible inside cells. In fact, some machines use the intracellular water level when looking for cancer.⁸

“The carbon dioxide can be changed into carbonic acid, by chemically combining with water. Carbonic acid is hydrophilic, and so it quickly leaves the cell, taking with it some of the oppositely charged ions, such as calcium and sodium.”⁹

6. CO₂ protects the cell and mitochondria structure from damage, acting like an antioxidant and cell stabilizer — Since it improves oxygen delivery, it reduces free radical damage.^{10,11,12,13,14} It also protects against hypoxia and the negative effects of intracellular calcium and inflammation.^{15,16,17,18,19,20} Abundant CO₂ inside and outside the cell protects lipids and proteins susceptible to oxidation.^21,22 In fact, CO₂ is part of our antioxidant defense system.²³

“The suppression of mitochondrial respiration increases the production of toxic free radicals, and the decreased carbon dioxide makes the proteins more susceptible to attack by free radicals.” ~ Ray Peat, Ph.D.

“The failure to oxidize glucose to CO₂ is oxidative stress.” ~ Ray Peat, Ph.D.

7. CO₂ prevents accumulation of lactic acid in the cell, which we see in cancer, diabetes, and other chronic conditions^24,25,26,27 — Lactic acid is a byproduct of inefficient carb metabolism that suppresses efficient oxidation of glucose and burdens the liver’s energy supply. Elevated lactic acid levels have a hypoxic effect and signals to the cell that it is under stress.

“The presence of lactic acid, which indicates stress or defective respiration, interferes with energy metabolism in ways that tend to be self-promoting. Harry Rubin’s experiments demonstrated that cells become cancerous before genetic changes appear. The mere presence of lactic acid can make cells more susceptible to the transformation into cancer cells. (Mothersill, et al., 1983.)

Diabetics typically have elevated lactate, which shows that glucose doesn’t have a problem getting into their cells, just getting oxidized.” ~ Ray Peat, Ph.D.

More CO₂ improves oxidation and thus prevents accumulation of lactic acid since full oxidative phosphorylation (proper carb metabolism) can occur.

“Lactic acid and carbon dioxide have opposing effects.” ~ Ray Peat, Ph.D.

8. CO₂ improves longevity — The higher you live in altitude (and thus the higher CO₂ levels), the lower the cancer, heart disease and overall better health.²⁸ Moreover, maximum lifespan of mammals is positively correlated with blood CO₂.²⁹

“People who live at very high altitudes live significantly longer; they have a lower incidence of cancer (Weinberg, et al., 1987) and heart disease (Mortimer, et al., 1977), and other degenerative conditions, than people who live near sea level.” ~ Ray Peat, Ph.D.