Is it oxygen, or electrons, that our respiratory system delivers?

While browsing various articles and studies on Science Direct about the respiratory system, one article caught my attention. It challenges the widely accepted understanding of respiration.
The article hypothesizes that the traditional concept of respiration, where oxygen gas (O₂) is inhaled into the lungs, passes from the alveoli (tiny air sacs) into the capillaries (small blood vessels), and enters the bloodstream, might not be entirely accurate.
Instead, the article suggests that it’s not the oxygen molecule (O₂) itself that enters the bloodstream. Rather, electrons are extracted from the oxygen within the lungs.
If this hypothesis proves true, it could fundamentally change our understanding of oxygen’s role in respiration. Oxygen would remain essential, but its primary function would be as a source of electrons, establishing a more direct link between the respiratory system and metabolic energy production.

Is it oxygen, or electrons, that our respiratory system delivers? – ScienceDirect

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S030698772400210X

Respiration involves the inspiration of atmospheric gases. Arguments are put forth that it is not oxygen gas that passes from the alveoli to the capil…