Is oxygen a fuel source?

Oxygen is not a fuel source, but rather an essential element needed to burn fuel in the body. It is crucial for the metabolism process, where it enables the conversion of biological fuels (like glucose) into energy by helping to drive processes that release energy from those fuels. In metabolic terms, oxygen acts similarly to how it does in fire—it supports the combustion process but isn't the fuel itself. Without oxygen, the energy release processes would not occur efficiently, just as a fire wouldn't burn without it [1 2].