Whole body cryostimulation may be a useful extra treatment for obesity (-166 F beats -67 F cold for many benefits - Therapy available)

Medical Xpress / European Association for the Study of Obesity / European Congress on Obesity ^ | May 18, 2023 | Dr. Jacopo Fontana et al

[ConservativeMind]

Whole body cryostimulation is a useful "add-on" treatment for obesity, research suggests.

Levels of cholesterol and other blood fats improved twice as much in individuals, compared with individuals given a sham treatment.

Those who had whole body cryostimulation (WBC) also experienced a greater reduction in waist circumference and in blood sugar levels.

29 participants (12 men and 17 women, BMI >30 kg/m2) were non-randomly allocated either to a group receiving 10 2-min WBC sessions at minus 110°C in a cryochamber over two weeks (WBC) or a control group receiving the same intervention at non-cryostimulating temperatures of minus 55°C (SHAM).

Triglycerides, total cholesterol and HDL and LDL cholesterol levels fell in both groups, but the decreases were twice as great in the WBC group. After two weeks, average triglyceride levels had fallen by 17% in the WBC group, compared with 8.7% in the SHAM group, total cholesterol (20.2% decrease in WBC group vs. 9.4% decrease in the SHAM group), HDL (12.7% decrease vs. 6.3% decrease), LDL (24.7% decrease vs. 10.5% decrease).

Similarly, blood glucose levels (10.3% decrease vs. 2.8% decrease) and waist circumference (5.6% decrease vs. 1.4% decrease) fell in both groups but the decreases were much greater in the WBC group.

Diastolic blood pressure decreased more in the WBC group (9.9% decrease vs. 3.9% decrease), while heart rate decreased in the SHAM group but increased in the WBC group.

Physical performance, measured in tests of hand grip strength and walking speed, improved to the same extent in both groups.

Activity of the parasympathetic nervous system, the branch of the autonomic nervous system that relaxes the body after periods of stress and controls heart rate, blood pressure, digestion and other "automatic" (involuntary) responses during times of rest, increased in both groups but the increase was greater in the WBC group.

[ConservativeMind]

Ten two minute sessions of -166 F (-110 C) temperatures versus a SHAM treatment of -67 F (-55 C) shower a number of improvements in body measurements. A reduction of 20% cholesterol, 10.3% glucose, and 9.9% in diastolic blood pressure, occurred.

LDL dropped 24.7%.

Do note the SHAM treatment is still a good form of therapy, just not as good.

These therapy centers are available around the country, with dozens of centers in major metropolitan centers.

[ConservativeMind]

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[moovova]

[marktwain]

For those who wonder, the cryostimulation is to lower the skin temperature by 2 to 5 degrees C, quickly.

This stimulates a response to first, reduce circulation to the skin, then to increase circulation by roughly 4x for a period. The period of increased circulation is much greater than the reduced circulation.

[Boogieman]

So the crazy “polar bear swim” people who jump in the lake when it’s almost freezing were on to something?

[Boogieman]

I wonder if you wouldn’t get about the same effect just inducing the diver’s response by splashing very cold water on your face?

[BobL]

Thanks, but the Pacific Ocean in LA County is PLENTY cold enough for me.

[SauronOfMordor]

As boogieman notes, couldn’t the same effect be produced more easily by submerging the subject into ice water for a few seconds?

Maybe there is something to taking a cold shower in the morning to wake yourself up?

[Alas Babylon!]

What does this feel like?

Does it hurt?

How much, if so, on a scale of 1-10, one being minor discomfort, and ten being excruciating pain?

I don’t think I’d enjoy it. I’m a Southerner by choice.

[chief lee runamok]

[marktwain]

So the crazy “polar bear swim” people who jump in the lake when it’s almost freezing were on to something?

Or Immersion in ice water, or the Scandinavian Sauna and snow roll combination.

They all seem similar.

[marktwain]

Here is a summation of cold exposure practices.

They say, no medical confirmation of benefits...

Lots of anecdotes.

[ConservativeMind]

I would say I would try any such harmless action as this, to further prove it out.

Everything I post for my ping list is something I believe is credible and doable.

Waiting 30 years for a meta study to tell doctors that green tea, for instance, helps with something, is senseless. What would it have hurt if I'd used green tea when the first studies came out? Nothing bad, and everything good could have occurred for me. A life could be changed.

My wife is trialing a therapy from several studies I found, right now, to see if she can reduce her fibroids without the surgery and surgeon we've talked to. She has two and a half more months before we get her scanned again.

The therapy could take her fibroids down by 75% in three months. It's harmless stuff to take, too.

I will post about it, if successful. The doctor said three months won't affect the work she'd have to do but she did say she hasn't seen anyone successfully reduce fibroids by much, at all.

I am hoping we shock her.

[marktwain]

I much appreciate your ping list.

The standards for double-blind medical tests are very high.

I am intrigued by the cold studies, because, as you say, they seem plausible and generally, harmless.

Thanks for all your work.

[Sirius Lee]

Thanks, but the Pacific Ocean in LA County is PLENTY cold enough for me.

And because of Great Whites, one is never tempted to stay in overly long.

[moovova]

Holy cow!

(And, I do mean cow.)

[ConservativeMind]

There is a cryo place nearby that has -110 C / -166 F temperatures without wind and can add wind to reduce the effective temperature another 40 degrees F.

The cost for 10 sessions, just like this study? $250 total.

I may be doing this.