Effect of normal air pressure low oxygen concentration environments on resting metabolism

In order to examine whether normal pressure and low oxygen environments are effective as exercise loads, we used respiratory gas analysis to look into the impact of 30 minutes of exposure to normal pressure low oxygen concentration conditions on energy metabolism. Subjects were 7 healthy adult males. Method: A low oxygen concentration environment at normal pressure was set up using membrane separation at a normal oxygen concentration. Subjects rested for 30 minutes in a seated position in each of the test conditions, and readings of their energy expenditure rate (kcal/min), lipid oxidation rate (mg/min), and glucose oxidation rate(mg/min) were obtained using respiratory gas analysis, and a comparative investigation was carried out on these. Results: The EER in the low oxygen concentration environment at normal pressure was the same as that in a normal oxygen environment, however, the lipid oxidation rate in the low oxygen concentration environment at normal pressure was significantly lower than that in the normal oxygen environment, and the GOR in the low oxygen concentration environment at normal pressure was significantly higher than that in the normal oxygen environment. Conclusion: These results suggested that unlike in high altitude environments, glucose usage may be accelerated in low oxygen concentration environments at normal pressure, in which only oxygen concentration is decreased.