Effects of the micronutrient Sanopal® (5-hydroxymethyl-2-furfural and α-ketoglutaric acid) on oxygen affinity of hemoglobin, oxygen saturation and exercise responses at altitude

Sanopal® did not alter hemoglobin-oxygen affinity or SpO₂ under resting conditions in normoxia or acute hypoxia. After exercise at altitude, it slightly increased Hb-O₂ affinity without significantly affecting SpO₂ or other measured blood parameters. The modest increase in Hb-O₂ affinity following exercise may have limited the exercise-induced decrease in Hb-O₂ affinity. However, this increase was likely too small to significantly raise SpO₂ in this cohort at a relatively low altitude.