The effect of intermittent hypoxia on insulin and ghrelin concentrations and VO2max in obese patients with type2 diabetes

Purpose: Exposure to altitude and hypoxia environment cause to weight loss and variety of endocrine adaptations, that found this mechanisms could be a new tool for the treatment of obesity and diabetes prevention in the future. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of intermittent hypoxia on serum ghrelin, insulin, fast blood sugar and VO2max in obese patients with type 2 diabetes. Methods: 10 obese subjects with type II diabetes, mean BMI: 32.02 ± 2.4 kg/m2 and the age range 50 to 70 years, volunteered to participate in the study. The intervention consisted of fifteen sessions of intermittent hypoxia, each day one hour, for fifteen consecutive days. Ghrelin, fast blood sugar and insulin were measured three times (pretest, 7th day, and posttest), while, BMI and VO2max in the pre and post-tests were evaluated. VO2max was estimated using single stage treadmill walking test. Serum concentrations of insulin and ghrelin were measured using ELISA kits. Blood glucose was measured by the calorimetric method. Paired t test and ANOVA with repeated measures were used to evaluate changes in indicators. Results: The results showed that short-term (7 days) and medium term (15 days) of intermittent hypoxia exposure does not effect on serum levels of ghrelin, glucose and insulin hormones, as well as body mass index. But, significant change was seen in VO2max (P<0.002). Conclusion: The findings of this study indicate that despite intermittent hypoxia positive effect on Vozmax, changes in serum insulin and ghrelin hormones and BMI in diabetic patients was not significant.