Abstract
Hypoxic training has been reported to lower obesity morbidity without clear underlying mechanisms. This study investigates the effect of hypoxic training on metabolic changes, particularly, on liver metabolism of high fat diet (HFD)-induced obese mice. We compared the hypoxic training group with normoxic sedentary, normoxic training, and hypoxic sedentary groups. Body weight, fat mass, glucose tolerance and liver physiology were determined after 4 weeks intervention. In both normoxic training and hypoxic training groups, body weight was lower than the normoxic sedentary group, with less fat mass. Insulin sensitivity was improved after hypoxic training. Moreover, liver metabolomics revealed insights into the protective effect of hypoxic training on HFD-induced fatty liver. Taken together, these findings provide a molecular metabolic mechanism for hypoxic training.
Highlights
The recent observation that in obese subjects adipose tissue becomes hypoxic and triggers inflammation and obesity-associated diseases [1] has generated inquiries as to the potential of oxygen therapy as a tool for weight management [2, 3]
Following 13 weeks of a high fat diet (HFD), mice were randomly assigned to four treatment groups [normoxic sedentary (S), normoxic training (NT), hypoxic sedentary (H), and hypoxic training (HT)] and body weight (BW) was measured at the end of each week during the 4 weeks treatment period (Figure 1A)
It has been reported that O2 variations in organic systems may lead to considerable (3%) weight loss and improve metabolic and cardiorespiratory health [21,22,23]
Summary
The recent observation that in obese subjects adipose tissue becomes hypoxic and triggers inflammation and obesity-associated diseases [1] has generated inquiries as to the potential of oxygen therapy as a tool for weight management [2, 3]. There is research that indicates that hypobaric hypoxia and normobaric hypoxia can lead to weight loss and lower the risk of metabolic syndrome, respectively [4,5,6]. While the mechanism underlying these observations is still unknown, combining hypoxia and exercise training might provide a cost-effective strategy for reducing body weight and improving metabolic health in obese humans. It was reported that acclimatization to hypoxia (10 days at 5,500 m) reduced the aerobic capacity of the rat skeletal muscle (gastrocnemius) through a fall in citrate synthase activity [10]. Another study has shown that normobaric hypoxic (FIO2 = 15%) training enhanced the activation of satellite cells and angiogenesis of the thoroughbred horse skeletal muscle [9]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
