What Researchers Did
Researchers explored whether introducing a specific gut microbe into rats could reduce their risk of decompression sickness by metabolizing hydrogen gas while the rats were exposed to high pressures in a hyperbaric chamber.
What They Found
Rats treated with the microbe *M. smithii* experienced a 25% incidence of decompression sickness (5 out of 20 rats). This was significantly lower than the 56% incidence (28 out of 50 rats) observed in untreated control rats. The study estimated that removing just 5% of the body's hydrogen gas burden using this method reduced the risk of decompression sickness by more than half.
What This Means for Canadian Patients
This research explored a novel approach to reduce decompression sickness (DCS) risk by using microbes to remove dissolved gases from the body. While conducted on rats, it suggests a potential future strategy for divers to mitigate DCS, a condition that can affect individuals undergoing rapid pressure changes, including some professional divers in Canada.
Canadian Relevance
This study is not Canadian and does not feature Canadian authors. However, it covers decompression sickness, which is a Health Canada-recognized indication for hyperbaric oxygen therapy.
Study Limitations
This study was conducted on rats, meaning its findings may not directly apply to humans without further investigation.