What Researchers Did
Researchers compared how a short session of hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) and high-intensity interval training (HIIT) affected gene expression and other blood markers in ten healthy volunteers.
What They Found
They observed similar changes in 166 genes after both HBOT and HIIT, primarily in pathways related to hypoxia or inflammation. Both interventions led to a downregulation of several NF-κB signaling genes and an upregulation of several interferon α/γ signaling genes. However, only 12 microRNAs changed with HBOT and 6 with HIIT, with no overlap, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels only increased after HIIT, not during or after HBOT.
Canadian Relevance
No direct Canadian connection identified.
Study Limitations
This feasibility study involved only ten healthy volunteers, which limits the generalizability of the findings to a broader population or specific patient groups.