The addition of at least one promoter selected from the group consisting of thiosulfate salts, sulfite salts, bisulfite salts, erythorbate salts, isoascorbate salts, and combinations thereof to an aqueous treatment fluid containing a viscosifying polymer and a peroxide helps to promote the activity of the peroxide as a breaker, thus facilitating a reduction in viscosity of the aqueous treatment fluid at lower temperatures than are possible in the absence of the promoter. The promoted aqueous treatment fluid is useful as a fracture fluid to fracture subterranean formations in oil and gas recovery.