Changes in levels of neurotransmitters
and other stress hormones as a result of inhalation of activated
oxygen using the Airnergy Professional Plus
K. Erpenbach
Medical Therapy Centre, Erftstadt
BACKGROUND: in patients with COPD, Airnergy+
activated inhaled air leads to complete normalisation of blood
pressure with a concomitant improvement in sleep hygiene over
a 4-week course of respiratory therapy. Regulation of both blood
pressure and sleep is dependent on a number of stress hormones
and neurotransmitters. The aim of this study was therefore to
investigate whether use of Airnergy in healthy subjects can bring
about a change in levels of neurotransmitters or other stress
hormones. The possible effect of the site of administration (nasal
versus oral) of the activated oxygen on the change in hormone
levels was investigated at the same time.
PATIENTS AND METHODS: 6 female subjects
underwent a daily 30-minute period of inhalation using the Airnergy
Professional Plus for 5 days. 3 subjects breathed the activated
oxygen through the nose and 3 subjects breathed it through the
mouth. Concentrations of the neurotransmitters serotonin, adrenaline
and noradrenaline and of the stress hormones TSH, ACTH, cortisol
and DHEAS in the serum were determined in each case before and
15 minutes after inhalation of the activated oxygen on day 1
and again 15 minutes after use of the respiratory therapy on
day 5.
RESULTS: during the 5-day Airnergy respiratory
therapy with activated oxygen, stress hormone levels were reduced
by 25% for TSH (from 2.4 to 1.8 mU/L), 33% for ACTH (from 26.8
to 18 pg/ml), 24% for cortisol (from 33.6 to 25.7 µg/dL)
and levels of the neurotransmitter noradrenaline were reduced
by 48% (from 595 to 311 ng/L) in all the subjects. The counter-stress
hormone DHEAS and the neurotransmitters serotonin and adrenaline
remained unchanged in the overall evaluation of the subjects.
If the subjects results are considered separately by site
of administration, the changes in the nasal inhalation group
(IN) are more marked than those in the oral inhalation group
(IO). TSH fell by 31% (IN) versus 14% (IO),
ACTH by 30% (IN) versus 35% (IO), cortisol
by 26% (IN) versus 21% (IO) and noradrenaline by 48% in both
groups. Differences between the groups were evident with the
hormones DHEAS, adrenaline and serotonin. DHEAS increased by
7% (IN) and fell by 6% (IO), adrenaline fell by 14% (IN) and
rose by 12% (IO) and serotonin rose by 8% (IN) and fell by 13%
(IO). Side effects were not reported during the study by any
of the subjects.
CONCLUSION: during nasal inhalation of
activated oxygen with Airnergy+ respiratory therapy, healthy
subjects experience a marked improvement in their hormonal preparedness
for stress (improved thyroid function, falling cortisol/adrenaline/noradrenaline,
rising DHEAS/serotonin). The substantial fall in noradrenaline
levels also explains the normalisation of blood pressure observed
in COPD patients under Airnergy respiratory therapy. A further
study in patients with hypertension is under preparation to seek
confirmation of these results.
And here is the summary of the COPD study:
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease:
are significant effects likely as a result of daily inhalation
of activated oxygen by means of administration of Airnergy?
K. Erpenbach, H. Molitor, K. Visscher
Medical Therapy Centre, Erftstadt
BACKGROUND: in healthy subjects, Airnergy+
activated inhaled air leads to an improvement in the utilisation
of the oxygen in inhaled air and to improved peak flow. Because
of their worsening dyspnoea and the resulting lack of physical
stamina, COPD patients often require very onerous oxygen therapy.
The aim of this study was therefore to investigate whether use
of Airnergy in COPD patients can bring about an improvement in
physical exercise capacity and an improvement in lung function
parameters.
PATIENTS AND METHODS: 15 patients underwent
a daily 30-minute period of inhalation using the Airnergy Professional
Plus for 4 weeks. On days 0 14 28 and 56, all patients
were asked about their walking distance (in metres) and their
ability to climb stairs (number of stairs) and lung function
tests and serological tests (leukocytes, erythrocytes, Hb, Hct,
platelets, CRP, electrophoresis) were performed. Blood pressure
was measured daily before commencing inhalation.
RESULTS: over the 4-week course of Airnergy
respiratory therapy, walking distance increased 35-fold (from
50 to 1766 m) and the ability to climb stairs more than doubled
(from 12 to 29 stairs) in all patients. This effect was maintained
even in the treatment-free period for a further 4 weeks. After
three months without therapy, all patients had returned to their
initial condition, however. FEV1/VC ratio improved over the 4-week
treatment period by 8.6% (from 58% to 63%) but then fell back
to the baseline level in the follow-up observation period. As
regards the serological tests, the brevity of the treatment period
allowed a reduction only in inflammatory activity (CRP) of 83%
(from 35.9 mg/dl to 4.7 mg/dl). No changes in blood count were
observed. As a secondary finding, normalisation of blood pressure
was observed during respiratory therapy in all patients. None
of the patients complained of exacerbation of their disease at
any point during the follow-up observation period.
CONCLUSION: under Airnergy+ respiratory
therapy, COPD patients experience a marked improvement in their
exercise capacity (walking distance, stair-climbing), an improvement
in their lung function and a reduction in the inflammatory activity
of the disease. None of the patients experienced exacerbation
of the COPD during the follow-up observation period.