Carbohydrate ingestion improves oxygen delivery in acute hypoxia.

It is generally accepted that an increase in blood CO(2) increases ventilation. We also know that during carbohydrate metabolism a larger amount of CO(2) is produced than during metabolism of lipids or proteins. The aim of the present study was therefore to assess whether carbohydrate ingestion can increase CO(2) production enough to stimulate ventilation, which could in turn increase arterial oxygenation and alleviate the symptoms of hypoxia in a hypoxic environment.