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The autonomic effects of whole-body cryostimulation at two different temperatures in patients with obesity.

Number: 0594

Author(s) : FONTANA J. M., PITERA P., VERME F., CREMASCOLI R., CATTALDO S., MAI S., BIANCHI L., CIMOLIN V., BRUNANI A., CAPODAGLIO P.

Summary

A growing body of work suggests that Whole-Body Cryostimulation (WBC) could play a role as adjuvant therapy in various conditions of rehabilitation interest, as it can act as a “training method” for the autonomic nervous system, a novel anti-inflammatory and antioxidant treatment with beneficial effects on body composition and adipose tissue. The powerful effects of thermal stress on the physiological responses of the human body present unique features that could potentially be further exploited as an add-on treatment in the management of obesity. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of WBC at two different temperatures the first defined as “cryogenic” -110°C, the second as “non-cryogenic” - 55°C, on heart rate variability, body composition, metabolic profile and physical performance in patients with obesity undergoing a multidisciplinary rehabilitation program. 30 patients (12 men and 18 women) with BMI>30 were hospitalized for a multidisciplinary rehabilitation program (diet + exercise) and non-randomly allocated either to a group receiving 10 2-min WBC sessions at -110°C in a cryochamber over two weeks (RWBC) or a control/sham group receiving the same intervention at temperatures of -55°C (RS). The results observed decreased percent changes were found for triglycerides, total cholesterol, HDL, LDL and glucose in both groups, but to a greater extent in the RWBC group. The percent change in diastolic blood pressure (PAD) decreased more in the WBC group, while heart rate (HR) decreased in the RS group but increased in the RWBC group. Interestingly, spectral analysis of RR interval variability shows an increase in parasympathetic control in both groups after the 10th session of WBC, but only in the WBC group was there a decrease in arterial pressure (PA). Among body composition parameters, waist circumference (WC) had a higher reduction in the WBC group. As for  performance capacity, no significant changes in percentage between the groups were found for both 6-minutes walking test and hand grip strength. Our results showed that the cryogenic temperature of -110°C in the RWBC group induced stronger effects on metabolic profile (glucose and lipids), body composition (WC) and vital signs than -55°C of the RS group. Interestingly, the significant reduction in HR observed in both groups after spectral analysis of RR interval variability suggests an increase in parasympathetic tone, suggesting that both temperatures might have an effect on the parasympathetic component, but stronger for the lower temperature, as the RS group showed no significant change in PA. Overall, the improvements observed provide initial support for the use of WBC as an adjuvant treatment for patients with obesity.

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Pages: 11 p.

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Details

  • Original title: The autonomic effects of whole-body cryostimulation at two different temperatures in patients with obesity.
  • Record ID : 30031564
  • Languages: English
  • Subject: Technology
  • Source: Proceedings of the 26th IIR International Congress of Refrigeration: Paris , France, August 21-25, 2023.
  • Publication date: 2023/08/21
  • DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.18462/iir.icr.2023.0594

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