Examination of methods for improving immune function using a mild hyperbaric oxygen

2020 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K24304
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Research Activity Start-up
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: 0909:Sports sciences, physical education, health sciences, and related fields
• Research Institution: National Agency for the Advancement of Sports and Health
• Principal Investigator: Takemura Ai 独立行政法人日本スポーツ振興センター国立スポーツ科学センター, スポーツ研究部, 契約研究員 (20845903)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-08-30 – 2021-03-31
• Keywords: 軽度な高気圧酸素 / 疲労感 / 免疫機能

Outline of Final Research Achievements

This study aimed to examine the effects of mild hyperbaric oxygen (MHO) at 1.3 atmospheres absolute with approximately 30% oxygen on immunity and mood disturbance induced by high-intensity exercises. In a randomized crossover design, ten healthy adult men completed 2 trials: the control (CON) trial and the MHO trial. Each subject cycled for 60 min at the physical work capacity at 75% of their maximal heart rate. Subsequently, they were exposed to the CON and MHO conditions for 60 min as the recovery period. The averaged heart rate during the 20 to 40 min recovery time points was lower in the MHO trial than in the CON. There are no differences in immunity response between two trials. The fatigue-inertia, tension-anxiety, and total mood disturbance scores decreased at 60 min after the exercise in the MHO trial, but there were no differences of these scores in the CON trial. These results suggest that impaired mood states induced by high-intensity exercise can be improved early by MHO.

Free Research Field

スポーツ科学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

高強度トレーニングの実施後の免疫機能や主観的な気分の低下を防ぐことは、健康維持や、アスリートのパフォーマンス向上にとって重要である。軽度な高気圧酸素の環境は、怪我や身体障害、高齢などで長期にわたって運動の実施が困難な場合にも使用できる。軽度な高気圧酸素の環境下における身体の代謝能力の向上が、免疫機能や疲労感に及ぼす影響は、これまでに研究されていなかった。本研究の結果から、トレーニング等の高強度運動後のリカバリーに、特に疲労感の軽減という点で、軽度な高気圧酸素を使用できる可能性が示された。アスリートやスポーツ愛好家の健康、及び、パフォーマンス維持に繋がる重要な成果を得ることができた。