HBOT & Metabolic Disorders
According to the CDC, metabolic syndrome has reached epidemic levels, as an estimated 22-30% of Americans have metabolic disorders (1). Metabolic syndrome is characterized by symptoms such as obesity, type 2 Diabetes mellitus, dyslipidemia, and high blood pressure (1). Over ⅔ of our population is categorized as overweight or obese, meaning many more are at risk for developing this syndrome.
A promising new study has found that hyperbaric oxygen therapy has the potential to treat metabolic disorders. This 2021 study examined the effects of hyperbaric oxygen therapy on brown adipose tissue in rats (2).
Brown adipose tissue (BAT), also known as brown fat, is a special kind of fat tissue that is activated when the body gets cold (3). Brown fat has more mitochondria than white fat, which means it burns more calories. It appears that brown fat is also able to use regular fat tissue as fuel, as opposed to the primary fuel of glucose (3).
HBOT involves breathing 100% infused oxygen inside a pressurized chamber. This enables oxygen to reach every part of the body, where it both repairs damaged cells and encourages new cellular growth (4). At the same time, HBOT promotes circulation and stem cell growth, which reduces inflammation and supports the immune system (4). For decades, HBOT has proven effective for treating a multitude of medical conditions, including diabetic wound healing, post-operative recovery, arthritis, and radiation skin damage (4).
Increasingly, scientists and medical researchers are exploring the benefits of HBOT for conditions not traditionally treated with hyperbaric oxygen. Before this study, we only knew of two ways to increase brown fat: exercise and cold temperatures. Seven days of treating the rats with HBOT resulted in levels of BAT that were equivalent to the levels seen in long-term cold exposure (2).
Though the brown fat study used rats, the positive results will potentially open doors to researching HBOT’s effects on brown fat in humans. If HBOT can also increase levels of brown fat in humans, it could potentially be used as an effective treatment for reducing obesity and stimulating weight loss in metabolic syndrome patients. Metabolic syndromes and obesity are increasingly common, and effective treatment is desperately needed for the millions of affected Americans.
If you are seeking treatment for metabolic syndrome, we would love to support you. Our state-of-the art spa features knowledgeable staff, a relaxing environment, and comfortable hyperbaric chambers. We’d love to answer your questions about metabolic syndrome and hyperbaric oxygen therapy. Give us a call today.
SOURCES
https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/weight-loss/expert-answers/brown-fat/faq-20058388
Staff, Mayo Clinic. “Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy.” Mayo Clinic, Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, 12 Jan. 2018, www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/hyperbaric-oxygen-therapy/about/pac-20394380.