RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Hypobaric hypoxia causes body weight reduction in obese males, double-blinded, placebo-controlled study
JF European Respiratory Journal
JO Eur Respir J
FD European Respiratory Society
SP P3650
VO 44
IS Suppl 58
A1 Beatus Buchzik
A1 Milena Robinzonov
A1 Rudolf Maria Huber
A1 Jürgen Behr
A1 Rosemarie Kiefl
A1 Nikolay Robinzonov
A1 Martin Karasz
A1 Rainald Fischer
YR 2014
UL http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/44/Suppl_58/P3650.abstract
AB This double blinded, placebo-controlled study is a first of its kind world-wide. Although similar research conducted at high altitudes showed a reduction of body weight in obese males, none of these have been able to clearly distinguish whether this may be due to relative hypobaric hypoxia or rather due to increased physical exercise. In our study, we aimed to effectively distinguish between these effects in obese patients at high altitude. We investigated 20 male obese subjects (age 60,7 ± 5,9 Years, BMI 33,6 ± 3,0kg/m²). In order to reduce confounding factors as a result of placebo effect, 10 obese objects received additional oxygen via an oxygen concentrator and the other 10 received normal air from the mountain (Passo Stelvio, Italy, 2760m). Subjects in both the control and intervention group had a comparable balanced nutrition with no specific dietary restrictions. We documented their individual body weight, objective activity parameters, metabolic and cardiovascular parameters, blood gas analysis, leptin, grehlin and hypoxia-inducible-factor (HIF-1) at low altitude (LA) (Munich 530m, D1), at the beginning and again at the end of the 1-week stay at high altitude (D7 and D14) and 4 weeks after returning to LA (D42). The verum intervention group weighed significantly less than the control group who gained weight at D14 and even less at D42. The basal leptin, HIF-1 and Ghrelin levels were significantly increased at D14. This study confirmed the hypothesis that hypobaric hypoxia can reduce body weight at high altitude. A significant difference in the measured hormones could be established.