Abstract
Due to the observations of weight loss at high altitude, normobaric hypoxia has been considered as a method of weight loss in obese individuals. With this regard, the aim of the present study was to determine the effect of hypoxia per se on metabolism in men with excess weight. Eight men living with excess weight (125.0 ± 17.7 kg; 30.5 ± 11.1 years, BMI: 37.6 ± 6.2 kg⋅m–2) participated in a randomized cross-over study comprising two 10-day confinements: normobaric (altitude of facility ≃ 940 m) normoxia (NORMOXIA; PIO2 = 133 mmHg), and normobaric hypoxia (HYPOXIA). The PIO2 in the latter was reduced from 105 (simulated altitude of 2,800 m) to 98 mmHg (simulated altitude of 3,400 m over 10 days. Before, and at the end of each confinement, participants completed a meal tolerance test (MTT). Resting energy expenditure (REE), circulating glucose, GLP-1, insulin, catecholamines, ghrelin, peptide-YY (PYY), leptin, gastro-intestinal blood flow, and appetite sensations were measured in fasted and postprandial states. Fasting REE increased after HYPOXIA (+358.0 ± 49.3 kcal⋅day–1, p = 0.03), but not after NORMOXIA (−33.1 ± 17.6 kcal⋅day–1). Postprandial REE was also significantly increased after HYPOXIA (p ≤ 0.05), as was the level of PYY. Furthermore, a tendency for decreased energy intake was concomitant with a significant body weight reduction after HYPOXIA (−0.7 ± 0.2 kg) compared to NORMOXIA (+1.0 ± 0.2 kg). The HYPOXIA trial increased the metabolic requirements, with a tendency toward decreased energy intake concomitant with increased PYY levels supporting the notion of a hypoxia-induced appetite inhibition, that could potentially lead to body weight reduction. The greater postprandial blood-glucose response following hypoxic confinement, suggests the potential development of insulin resistance.
Highlights
IntroductionIn addition to reduced energy intake, the beneficial effects of physical activity in preventing or alleviating chronic diseases and increasing physiological and psychological well-being are well documented (Hudon et al, 2008)
The results point to some potential benefits of normobaric hypoxic confinement, which warrant further investigation
Normobaric hypoxic confinement (HYPOXIA) in the present study resulted in significantly increased levels of Resting energy expenditure (REE), suggesting a potential value of hypoxia in achieving weight loss in obese individuals
Summary
In addition to reduced energy intake, the beneficial effects of physical activity in preventing or alleviating chronic diseases and increasing physiological and psychological well-being are well documented (Hudon et al, 2008). The American College of Sports Medicine (Jakicic et al, 2001) recommends that obese individuals should exercise at a moderate intensity (5569% of maximum heart rate), which can be beneficial for the management of their body weight loss. Maintenance of such exercise intensity may be difficult for them, new, innovative protocols have to be established in order to promote the quality of life in obese individuals
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