Outcome

This study highlights the potential benefits of mild hyperbaric oxygen therapy (mHBOT) in managing metabolic syndrome and reducing associated cardiac risks. Rats exposed to 1.25 atmospheres absolute (ATA) with 36% oxygen for 3 hours daily over 16 weeks demonstrated significant improvements compared to the normobaric metabolic syndrome group. These improvements included lower levels of fasting and nonfasting blood glucose glycated hemoglobin total cholesterol triglycerides insulin and systolic blood pressure.

Introduction

Metabolic syndrome is a cluster of conditions that increase the risk of heart disease stroke and type 2 diabetes. This study investigates the efficacy of mild hyperbaric oxygen therapy (mHBOT) in treating metabolic syndrome and reducing associated cardiac risks. Over 16 weeks rats with metabolic syndrome were exposed to a low-pressure hyperbaric environment of 1.25 atmospheres absolute (ATA) with 36% oxygen for 3 hours daily. The research compared outcomes between a normobaric metabolic syndrome group a mild hyperbaric oxygen group and a control group of Wistar rats.

Findings demonstrated that the mHBOT group exhibited significant health improvements including lower fasting and nonfasting blood glucose glycated hemoglobin total cholesterol triglycerides insulin and systolic blood pressure levels. Additionally there were increased adiponectin levels and enhanced muscle oxidative capacity. Furthermore the mHBOT group showed higher succinate dehydrogenase (SDH) activity and elevated mRNA levels of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ coactivator-1α (Pgc-1α) in the soleus muscle. Muscle fiber composition also shifted positively with fewer type I fibers more type IIA fibers and greater SDH staining intensity in type I and type IIC fibers. These improvements suggest that mHBOT effectively normalizes metabolic markers and muscle properties to levels observed in healthy controls implying potential benefits for mitigating metabolic syndrome and its cardiovascular risks.

Results

The study evaluated the effects of mild hyperbaric oxygen therapy (mHBOT) on Wistar rats with metabolic syndrome utilizing a regimen of 1.25 atmospheres absolute (ATA) with 36% oxygen for three hours daily over 16 weeks. The CP-H group which received mHBOT exhibited significant improvements across several metabolic parameters compared to the normobaric metabolic syndrome (CP) group.

Key findings include notably lower fasting and nonfasting blood glucose levels reduced glycated hemoglobin lower total cholesterol decreased triglycerides reduced insulin levels and lower systolic blood pressure in the CP-H group. These improvements underscore the potential of mHBOT in managing hyperglycemia and dyslipidemia common hallmarks of metabolic syndrome.

Additionally the CP-H group demonstrated elevated levels of adiponectin a hormone integral to glucose regulation and fatty acid breakdown along with increased succinate dehydrogenase (SDH) activity indicative of enhanced oxidative metabolism. The mRNA levels of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ coactivator-1α (Pgc-1α) were higher in the soleus muscle of the CP-H rats suggesting improved energy metabolism.

Muscle fiber analysis revealed favorable changes in the CP-H group with a noted reduction in the percentage of type I muscle fibers which are typically less efficient in metabolic syndrome and an increase in type IIA fibers. Enhanced SDH staining intensity was observed in type I and type IIC muscle fibers further supporting improved muscle oxidative capacity.

Comparatively no significant differences were detected between the Wistar control rats and the CP-H group indicating that mHBOT normalized metabolic and muscle properties to levels observed in healthy controls.

Overall mHBOT significantly improved metabolic markers and muscle oxidative function in rats with metabolic syndrome suggesting a potent therapeutic strategy to mitigate metabolic-induced cardiac risks.

Conclusion

In conclusion this study demonstrates the promising potential of mild hyperbaric oxygen therapy (mHBOT) in managing metabolic syndrome and mitigating associated cardiac risks. The CP-H group which underwent 1.25 ATA with 36% oxygen for three hours daily over 16 weeks exhibited significant improvements in essential metabolic parameters compared to the normobaric metabolic syndrome group. Key findings include reductions in fasting and nonfasting blood glucose glycated hemoglobin total cholesterol triglycerides insulin and systolic blood pressure. Additionally increases in adiponectin levels succinate dehydrogenase activity and mRNA levels of Pgc-1α in the soleus muscle alongside beneficial shifts in muscle fiber composition and enhanced oxidative capacity were observed.

These outcomes suggest that mHBOT can effectively inhibit growth-related glycemic increases and promote muscle oxidative function thereby potentially decreasing the risk of cardiac complications linked to metabolic syndrome. The findings provide a foundation for future research to explore the clinical applicability and benefits of mHBOT in humans with metabolic syndrome ultimately aiming to improve metabolic health and reduce cardiovascular risks.