Exposure to Mild Hyperbaric Oxygen Increases Blood Flow and Resting Energy Expenditure but not Oxidative Stress
Akihiko Ishihara *
Laboratory of Cell Biology and Life Science, Graduate School of Human and Environmental Studies, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8501, Japan.
Fumiko Nagatomo
Laboratory of Cell Biology and Life Science, Graduate School of Human and Environmental Studies, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8501, Japan.
Hidemi Fujino
Department of Rehabilitation Science, Kobe University Graduate School of Health Sciences, Kobe 654-0142, Japan.
Hiroyo Kondo
Department of Food Sciences and Nutrition, Nagoya Women’s University, Nagoya 467-8610, Japan.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Aims: This study examined the effects of exposure to mild hyperbaric oxygen on blood flow and resting energy expenditure.
Study Design: Clinical study.
Methods: Fourteen healthy women were exposed to mild hyperbaric conditions at 1.25 atmospheres absolute with 36.0% oxygen for 50 min. Their heart rate, peripheral oxygen saturation, blood flow, resting energy expenditure, derived-reactive oxygen metabolites, and biological antioxidant potential were monitored, and the values before and after exposure were compared.
Results: Heart rate decreased after exposure to mild hyperbaric oxygen. In contrast, peripheral oxygen saturation, blood flow, and resting energy expenditure increased after exposure. There were no changes in the levels of derived-reactive oxygen metabolites or biological antioxidant potential after exposure.
Conclusions: Exposure to mild hyperbaric oxygen increases blood flow and metabolism without increasing levels of oxidative stress.
Keywords: Biological antioxidant potential, blood flow, derived-reactive oxygen metabolites, heart rate, mild hyperbaric oxygen, peripheral oxygen saturation, resting energy expenditure.