Woo

A single hyperbaric oxygen exposure may reduce inflammatory and muscle damage markers following exercise in normal conditions.

 

Clinical bottom line:

1. Clinical significance unclear.
2. Post-exercise HBO exposure may reduce markers of inflammation and muscle damage, but results uncertain.
3. Also some modest reduction in oxidative stress possible.
4. Described as a pilot study, but plans for the definitive study remain vague.

 

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Citation: Woo J, Min JH, Lee YH, Roh HT. Effects of Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy on Inflammation, Oxidative/Antioxidant Balance, and Muscle Damage after Acute Exercise in Normobaric, Normoxic and Hypobaric, Hypoxic Environments: A Pilot Study. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2020 October 17:7377.

 

Lead author’s name and email: Jinhee Woo : jop9508@naver.com

 

Three-part clinical question: For individuals exercising in either air or hypobaric hypoxic environments, does a later rest period breathing hyperbaric oxygen, compared to air, result in reduced serum inflammatory, oxidative and muscle damage markers?

 Search terms: Exercise, oxidative stress, muscle damage

 

The study: Non-blinded randomised controlled trial with intention-to-treat.

The study patients: Healthy male volunteers with BMI under 30 kg/m².

 Control group: (N = 6; 6 analysed): Treadmill run for 60 minutes at 75-80% max heart rate breathing air at 1  (PiO₂ = 0.2 ATA) followed by air breathing rest for 60 minutes.

 Experimental group: (N = 6; 6 analysed): As above for exercise, but breathing 100% oxygen at 2.5 ATA for 60 minutes.

 

The evidence

Measure	Air Group		HBO Group		Difference	95% CI
	Mean	SD	Mean	SD
Interleukin-6 (pg/ml at 60 mins)	911	111	900	53	11	-9720 to 9742
Biological antioxidant potential (BAP) (micromole/L at 60 mins)	2773	182	2545	227	228	-54217 to 54673
Creatine Kinase (u/L)	255	59	227	64	28	-4844 to 4900

Note: Interleukin-6 used as marker of inflammation, BAP as a measure of oxidative stress, CK as an indicator of muscle damage

Comments:

1. Clinical significance of the findings is not clear.
2. Authors also tested a group exercising in hypoxia (PiO2 = 0.1 ATA) and then recovered in HBO conditions. Not discussed here.
3. All outcome data here is read from graphical display of results. The report is rather confusing.

 

Appraised by

Bosco Tran bosco.tran@student.unsw.edu.au

 Kill or update by: February 2025