What Researchers Did
Researchers combined animal model data with preliminary urinary metabolomics data from diabetic foot ulcer patients undergoing 6 weeks of HBOT to explore whether HBOT might also protect kidney function in diabetic patients.
What They Found
Both preclinical and human metabolomics data suggested HBOT reduced biomarkers of kidney injury, oxidative stress, and mitochondrial dysfunction in patients being treated for diabetic foot ulcers. The preliminary human data were from a prospective clinical trial.
Canadian Relevance
Diabetic foot ulcers are an OHIP-covered indication for HBOT in Ontario.
Study Limitations
The human metabolomics data are preliminary and from a small patient sample; these findings are hypothesis-generating and require confirmation in randomised trials measuring actual kidney function endpoints.