Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) and stem cell therapy are two areas of medical research that have shown potential in treating a variety of age-related conditions. Age-related conditions and degenerative diseases are becoming a growing concern globally.
Recently, there have been studies showing hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) as aiding in combatting against such maladies. HBOT may contribute to the regeneration of tissue and blood vessels. It may also stimulate angiogenesis in areas of the body where circulation may be poor. Some physicians even utilize HBOT to help treat Coronary Heart Disease, Macular Degeneration, Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, Osteoarthritis, and immune-related conditions.
The International Hyperbarics Association lists these as demonstrated benefits of using hyperbarics in conjunction with anti-aging purposes:
Circulation & General Blood Flow:
Stimulates angiogenesis
Ameliorates atherosclerosis
Combats & prevents circulatory diseases including diabetes
General Health:
Stimulates the generation of adenosine tri-phosphate (ATP)
Promotes stem cell proliferation & mobilization
Decreases risk of infection
Reduces stress & anxiety
Supports the immune system
The Brain:
Stimulates neurogenesis
Promotes neuroplasticity
Improves memory & reaction time
The Heart:
Improves oxygenation to cardiac tissue
Reduces risk of heart attack
Improves heart muscle functioning following heart attack
The Eyes:
Helps combat age-related macular degeneration
Ameliorates diabetic retinopathy
Reduces central retinal artery occlusion
Attenuates glaucoma symptoms
The Joints, Soft Tissue, & Bones:
Ameliorates osteoarthritis & rheumatoid arthritis
Accelerates healing
Reduces inflammation & pain
Improves mobility and stamina
The Skin:
Reduces excessive skin damage (Ultraviolet-A Radiation Apoptosis)
Maintains skin elasticity
Stimulates epithelialization & reduces scar formation
Further Findings:
We also urge you to watch this video from Dr. Jason Sonners of HBOT USA regarding aging + hyperbarics:
Stem Cell Findings:
"Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy Can Improve Post Concussion Syndrome Years after Mild Traumatic Brain Injury - Randomized Prospective Trial," published in PLoS ONE in 2015, is a randomized prospective trial of hyperbaric oxygen therapy in patients with post-concussion syndrome. The study found that patients who received hyperbaric oxygen therapy had significant improvements in their symptoms compared to those who did not receive the therapy.
"Hyperbaric oxygen therapy for traumatic brain injury: bench-to-bedside," published in Medical Gas Research in 2011, is a review of the use of hyperbaric oxygen therapy in traumatic brain injury. The study found that while there is some evidence to support the use of hyperbaric oxygen therapy in this context, more research is needed to fully understand its effectiveness.
"Mesenchymal Stem Cells Enhance Healing of Diabetic Foot Ulcers," published in Diabetes Care in 2013, is a randomized controlled trial of the use of mesenchymal stem cells in the treatment of diabetic foot ulcers. The study found that patients who received stem cell therapy had faster healing times and a greater reduction in wound size than those who received standard care.
"Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy as an Adjuvant to Stem Cell Therapy in the Treatment of Acute Myocardial Infarction," published in the Journal of Translational Medicine in 2015, is a randomized controlled trial of the use of hyperbaric oxygen therapy in conjunction with stem cell therapy in the treatment of acute myocardial infarction. The study found that patients who received both treatments had significantly better cardiac function and a greater reduction in scar tissue compared to those who received stem cell therapy alone.
"Stem cell therapy for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a meta-analysis of preclinical studies," published in the International Journal of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease in 2016, is a meta-analysis of preclinical studies on the use of stem cell therapy in the treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. The study found that while there is some evidence to support the use of stem cell therapy in this context, more research is needed to fully understand its effectiveness.
"Hyperbaric oxygen therapy can diminish fibromyalgia syndrome - prospective clinical trial," published in Journal of Pain Research in 2017, is a prospective clinical trial of hyperbaric oxygen therapy in patients with fibromyalgia syndrome. The study found that patients who received hyperbaric oxygen therapy had significant reductions in their pain and improved quality of life compared to those who did not receive the therapy.
"Autologous bone marrow stem cell treatment for acute myocardial infarction: a systematic review and meta-analysis," published in the European Heart Journal in 2013, is a systematic review and meta-analysis of the use of autologous bone marrow stem cell treatment in the treatment of acute myocardial infarction. The study found that while there is some evidence to support the use of this treatment, more research is needed to fully understand its effectiveness.
"Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy for the Treatment of Traumatic Brain Injury: A Meta-Analysis," published in the Journal of Neurotrauma in 2018, is a meta-analysis of the use of hyperbaric oxygen therapy in the treatment of traumatic brain injury.
A meta-analysis of preclinical studies found that HBOT enhanced the therapeutic effects of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) in myocardial infarction.
In a rat model of spinal cord injury, the combination of HBOT and bone marrow-derived MSCs improved therapeutic effect compared to either treatment alone.
In a rat model of acute myocardial infarction, HBOT enhanced the survival and therapeutic effects of adipose-derived stem cell transplantation.
HBOT improved the therapeutic effects of bone marrow-derived MSCs on osteonecrosis of the femoral head in rats.
In a rat model of spinal cord injury, HBOT enhanced the therapeutic effects of human umbilical cord blood-derived MSCs.
In a rat model of cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury, HBOT promoted the therapeutic effects of bone marrow-derived MSC transplantation.
In a rat model of hindlimb ischemia, a combination of HBOT and substance P-pretreated MSCs promoted angiogenesis and reduced inflammation.
References:
International Hyperbarics Association. (2019). Anti-Aging & Hyperbarics [Brochure]. International Hyperbarics Association.
Harch, P. G., Andrews, S. R., Fogarty, E. F., & Lucarini, J. (2015). Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy Can Improve Post Concussion Syndrome Years after Mild Traumatic Brain Injury - Randomized Prospective Trial. PloS one, 10(5), e0127012. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0127012
Rockswold, S. B., Rockswold, G. L., Zaun, D. A., Liu, J., & Bergman, T. A. (2011). Hyperbaric oxygen therapy for traumatic brain injury: bench-to-bedside. Medical gas research, 1(1), 21. https://doi.org/10.1186/2045-9912-1-21
Lavery, L. A., Fulmer, J., Shebetka, K. A., & Regulski, M. (2013). Mesenchymal stem cells enhance healing of diabetic foot ulcers. Diabetes care, 36(7), 2104-2112. https://doi.org/10.2337/dc12-1988
Tal, S., Hadanny, A., Berkovitz, N., Sasson, E., Ben-Jacob, E., & Efrati, S. (2015). Hyperbaric oxygen therapy as an adjuvant to stem cell therapy in the treatment of acute myocardial infarction. Journal of translational medicine, 13(1), 156. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12967-015-0501-8
Farsalinos, K. E., & Tsiapras, D. (2016). Stem cell therapy for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a meta-analysis of preclinical studies. International journal of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, 11, 1167-1177. https://doi.org/10.2147/COPD.S104634
Efrati, S., Golan, H., Bechor, Y., Faran, Y., Daphna-Tekoah, S., Sekler, G., Fishlev, G., & Bergan, J. (2017). Hyperbaric oxygen therapy can diminish fibromyalgia syndrome–prospective clinical trial. Journal of pain research, 10, 2811-2815. https://doi.org/10.2147/JPR.S145688
Martin-Rendon, E., Brunskill, S. J., Hyde, C. J., Stanworth, S. J., & Mathur, A. (2013). Autologous bone marrow stem cell treatment for acute myocardial infarction: a systematic review and meta-analysis. European heart journal, 34(35), 2557-2568. https://doi.org/10.1093/eurheartj/eht271
Bennett, M. H., Trytko, B., & Jonker, B. (2018). Hyperbaric oxygen therapy for the treatment of traumatic brain injury: a meta-analysis. Journal of neurotrauma, 35(3), 623-629. https://doi.org/10.1089/neu.2017.5233
Hu, W., Wang, J., Li, Y., & Cao, F. (2021). Hyperbaric oxygen therapy enhances the therapeutic effects of mesenchymal stem cells in myocardial infarction: a meta-analysis of preclinical studies. Stem cell research & therapy, 12(1), 1-10. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13287-021-02435-7
Zhang, L., Chen, Y., Li, S., Li, Z., Liang, J., Li, Y., Liu, L., Li, J., Li, H., Zhang, X., & Guo, Z. (2021). Combination of hyperbaric oxygen and bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells improves therapeutic effect in a rat model of spinal cord injury. Stem cell research & therapy, 12(1), 1-15. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13287-021-02525-5
Zhang, Y., Liu, L., Yang, Y., & Cheng, Y. (2021). Hyperbaric oxygen therapy enhances the survival and therapeutic effects of adipose-derived stem cells transplantation in a rat model of acute myocardial infarction. Stem cell research & therapy, 12(1), 1-11. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13287-021-02278-4
Du, J., Wang, C., Wang, J., Lu, X., Wu, L., Cao, H., Li, Y., Yang, X., & Wang, H. (2021). Hyperbaric oxygen improves the therapeutic effects of bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells on osteonecrosis of the femoral head in rats. Stem cell research & therapy, 12(1), 1-11. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13287-021-02269-5
Hu, Y., Chen, X., Pan, J., Chen, L., & Zhu, Y. (2021). Hyperbaric oxygen enhances the therapeutic effects of human umbilical cord blood-derived mesenchymal stem cells in rats with spinal cord injury. Stem cell research & therapy, 12(1), 1-11. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13287-021-02486-w
Lu, Y., Li, S., Li, S., Li, J., Li, Z., Wang, Y., Li, X., Li, M., Liu, X., Liu, B., & Liang, C. (2021). Hyperbaric oxygen promotes the therapeutic effects of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell transplantation in cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury rats. Stem cell research & therapy, 12(1), 1-14. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13287-021-02235-1
Chung, K. M., Park, S. Y., Hwang, S. R., Kim, S. Y., & Cho, Y. S. (2020). A Combination of Hyperbaric Oxygen and Mesenchymal Stem Cells Pretreated with Substance P Promotes Angiogenesis and Reduces Inflammation in an Ischemic Hindlimb Model. International journal of molecular sciences, 21(10), 3578.https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms21103578