Hypoxic Breathwork Effects Study

Overseen By Julie Onton, PhD

Age: 18 - 65

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: University of California, San Diego

Must not be taking: Psychoactive medications

Disqualifiers: Pregnancy, Smoking, Hypertension, Asthma, others

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 1

75 Participants Needed

Trial Summary

What is the purpose of this trial?

This project will study changes that occur during a short period of intensive daily slow-paced breathing and breath hold practice (i.e., "breathwork"). On the first and last days of the week-long practice, investigators will conduct high-density EEG recordings during breathwork to evaluate spectral power, coherence, and causality dynamics of the brain when it is naïve to breathwork and after adaptation to a breathwork practice. Breath, blood, urine, saliva, stool samples, biometric data, and sleep EEG will be collected before the start of daily breathwork practice and again after 1 week of breathwork practice to examine the effect of breathwork on full body biochemistry, molecular biology, and sleep. Investigators will also use questionnaires to assess the impact of breathwork on stress and sleep quality.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

If you are currently using psychoactive medications like anti-depressants or anxiolytics, you cannot participate in this trial. The protocol does not specify about other medications, so it's best to discuss with the trial team.

What data supports the effectiveness of the treatment Hypoxic Breathwork?

Research shows that intermittent hypoxic training (IHT) can improve lung function and increase oxygen efficiency, which may help in conditions like chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and asthma. Additionally, IHT has been found to enhance athletic performance and improve blood pressure, suggesting potential benefits for overall respiratory and cardiovascular health. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Is hypoxic breathwork generally safe for humans?

Research on hypoxic breathwork, including intermittent hypoxic training, shows it is generally safe for healthy individuals, with no significant negative effects on heart function or blood pressure observed in studies. However, it is important to consult with a healthcare provider before participating, especially if you have underlying health conditions. ^{2 3 6 7 8}

How is Hypoxic Breathwork different from other treatments for this condition?

Hypoxic Breathwork is unique because it involves controlled breathing techniques that expose the body to low oxygen levels intermittently, which can enhance respiratory and cardiovascular responses without the need for medication. This method is distinct from other treatments as it leverages the body's natural adaptation to hypoxia (low oxygen) to improve performance and health, making it a non-invasive and drug-free option. ^{2 4 6 8 9}

Eligibility Criteria

This trial is for healthy individuals aged 18-35 who can commit to the study's duration, agree to lifestyle considerations, and are willing to follow a breathwork regimen. They must provide consent and be in good health as per self-report.

Inclusion Criteria

I am available for the entire study period.

I agree to follow specific lifestyle guidelines during the study.

I am willing and able to follow the breathing exercise plan.

Timeline

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

1-2 weeks

Baseline

Collection of baseline data including breath, blood, urine, saliva, stool samples, biometric data, and sleep EEG

1 week

1 visit (in-person)

Intervention

Participants engage in daily breathwork practice with EEG recordings on the first and last days

7-14 days

Daily sessions (in-person)

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for changes in physiological, biochemical, and molecular biological responses post-intervention

1 week

Treatment Details

Interventions

• Hypoxic Breathwork

Trial Overview The study examines how intensive daily slow-paced breathing and breath hold practices (breathwork) affect brain activity, body biochemistry, stress levels, and sleep quality. Participants will undergo EEG recordings and provide various biological samples before and after a week of practice.

Participant Groups

Group I: Breathwork, music, messaging Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Subjects will perform a 40 min initial breathwork/music/messaging session with a full EEG cap followed by 7 or 14 days of once daily practice of a 20 min breathwork/music/messaging session. At the end of 7 or 14 days, they will again perform the 40 min breathwork/music/messaging session with a full EEG cap.

Group II: Breathwork only Active Control 1 Intervention

Subjects will perform a 40 min initial breathwork only session with a full EEG cap followed by 7 or 14 days of once daily practice of a 20 min breathwork only session. At the end of 7 or 14 days, they will again perform the 40 min breathwork only session with a full EEG cap.

Group III: Music and messaging Active Control 1 Intervention

Subjects will perform a 40 min initial music/messaging session with a full EEG cap followed by 7 or 14 days of once daily practice of a 20 min music/messaging session. At the end of 7 or 14 days, they will again perform the 40 min music/messaging session with a full EEG cap.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

University of California, San Diego

Lead Sponsor

Trials

1,215

Recruited

1,593,000+

Findings from Research

Normobaric interval hypoxic training (IHT) is a promising non-drug treatment for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) that can help prevent and manage the condition without causing side effects or complications.

A deeper understanding of how IHT works could enhance its effectiveness in treating COPD and help tailor the therapy to minimize risks associated with hypoxic treatments.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

[Effectiveness of hypoxic therapy in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease]. Borukaeva, IKh.[2013]

Intermittent hypoxic training (IHT) significantly improved hypoxic ventilatory responses (HVR) in healthy males, with increases of 70-200% depending on the severity of hypoxia, indicating enhanced respiratory efficiency during low oxygen conditions.

The 15-day IHT regimen also led to a notable increase in lung ventilation and gas exchange, demonstrating its potential benefits for both athletic training and possibly for treating certain diseases related to oxygen deficiency.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Intermittent hypoxia alters hypoxic ventilatory responses. Serebrovskaya, TV., Swanson, RJ., Karaban, IN., et al.[2016]

Intermittent hypoxic training (IHT) has been shown to improve several health markers in COPD patients, including increased exercise capacity and lung function, making it a promising therapeutic strategy for this group.

Currently, there is no strong evidence that IHT provides health benefits for patients with bronchial asthma, indicating a need for further research to explore its potential in this area.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Role of intermittent hypoxia in the treatment of bronchial asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Vogtel, M., Michels, A.[2016]

Normobaric intermittent hypoxic training (IHT) significantly improves the functional respiratory system and aerobic performance in highly qualified athletes by alternating periods of hypoxia and normoxia, enhancing oxygen delivery and utilization.

IHT is advantageous over traditional hypoxic training in mountain conditions because it allows for recovery periods that prevent the simultaneous stress of exercise-induced hypoxia, leading to better overall respiratory function and physical capacity without the destructive effects of combined hypoxia.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

[Hypoxic training of high qualification sportsmen]. Radziievs'kiĭ, PO., Radziievs'ka, MP.[2013]

Intermittent hypoxic breathing (IHR) and intermittent hypoxic training (IHT) significantly reduced systolic blood pressure (SBP) in hypertensive patients over a 6-week period, with reductions of up to 13 mmHg observed post-intervention.

Both IHR and IHT increased levels of nitric oxide metabolites (NOx) and hypoxia-inducible factor-1 alpha (HIF-1α), suggesting that these interventions may improve hypertension through enhanced production of these beneficial compounds.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Hypoxic training improves blood pressure, nitric oxide and hypoxia-inducible factor-1 alpha in hypertensive patients. Muangritdech, N., Hamlin, MJ., Sawanyawisuth, K., et al.[2021]

Intermittent hypoxia training (IHT) is safe and well-tolerated in healthy men aged 60 to 74, with no negative ECG changes observed during sustained hypoxia.

IHT significantly improved blood pressure, work capacity, and microvascular function in untrained men, while having no notable effects on trained individuals, indicating its potential benefits for enhancing cardiovascular health in older adults.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Effects of intermittent hypoxia training on exercise performance, hemodynamics, and ventilation in healthy senior men. Shatilo, VB., Korkushko, OV., Ischuk, VA., et al.[2016]

Training with intermittent breath holding (IBH) for 16 weeks significantly improved respiratory parameters in fin-swimming athletes, including forced expired volume (FEV1), forced vital capacity (FVC), and peak expiratory flow (PEF), compared to a self-selected breathing frequency group.

IBH also led to greater performance improvements in 50 m and 400 m swimming tests, suggesting that the increased load on respiratory muscles from IBH enhances athletic performance, despite a decrease in arterial oxygen saturation (SpO2) likely due to hypoventilation adaptation.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Changes in Respiratory Parameters and Fin-Swimming Performance Following a 16-Week Training Period with Intermittent Breath Holding. Stavrou, V., Toubekis, AG., Karetsi, E.[2020]

Respiratory muscle training (RMT) has been shown to reduce respiratory muscle fatigue and improve respiratory efficiency during exercise in hypoxic conditions, based on a review of seven studies involving healthy subjects over 4 to 8 weeks.

While RMT did not increase maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max), it helped maintain oxygen saturation and blood flow to muscles, making it a beneficial pre-exposure tool for athletes to adapt to hypoxia and minimize adverse effects from hyperventilation.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Putative Role of Respiratory Muscle Training to Improve Endurance Performance in Hypoxia: A Review. Álvarez-Herms, J., Julià-Sánchez, S., Corbi, F., et al.[2020]

In a study involving 14 healthy active subjects, intermittent hypoxic (IH) conditioning led to increased minute ventilation and improved heart rate variability compared to sustained hypoxic (SH) conditioning, suggesting it may be more beneficial for cardiovascular adaptations.

Both SH and IH resulted in decreased muscle and pre-frontal cortex oxygenation, but SH caused a greater reduction in pre-frontal oxygenation and a more significant increase in sympathetic activity, indicating different physiological responses to these hypoxic interventions.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Physiological Responses to Two Hypoxic Conditioning Strategies in Healthy Subjects. Chacaroun, S., Borowik, A., Morrison, SA., et al.[2020]

References

1. Russia (Federation) pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

[Effectiveness of hypoxic therapy in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease]. [2013]

2. Ukraine pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Intermittent hypoxia alters hypoxic ventilatory responses. [2016]

3. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Role of intermittent hypoxia in the treatment of bronchial asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. [2016]

4. Ukraine pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

[Hypoxic training of high qualification sportsmen]. [2013]

5. Germany pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Hypoxic training improves blood pressure, nitric oxide and hypoxia-inducible factor-1 alpha in hypertensive patients. [2021]

6. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Effects of intermittent hypoxia training on exercise performance, hemodynamics, and ventilation in healthy senior men. [2016]

7. Poland pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Changes in Respiratory Parameters and Fin-Swimming Performance Following a 16-Week Training Period with Intermittent Breath Holding. [2020]

8. Switzerland pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Putative Role of Respiratory Muscle Training to Improve Endurance Performance in Hypoxia: A Review. [2020]

9. Switzerland pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Physiological Responses to Two Hypoxic Conditioning Strategies in Healthy Subjects. [2020]