To explore the effects of negative ions generated by an ion converter on the high-altitude acclimatization of healthy populations and their impact on serum HIF1 (hypoxia-inducible factor 1) and PWC170 index after entering high-altitude areas.
Objective: To explore the effects of negative ions generated by an ion converter on the high-altitude acclimatization of healthy populations and their impact on serum HIF1 and PWC170 index after entering high-altitude areas. Methods: Sixty healthy adults were randomly divided into two groups: an air negative ion intervention group (observation group) of 30 participants and a non-air negative ion intervention group (control group) of 30 participants. Air negative ion intervention was conducted one week before entering high-altitude areas, lasting for 8 hours each day. Before entering high-altitude areas, measurements were taken for height, weight, blood pressure, heart rate, routine blood tests, routine urine tests, biochemical profiles, blood oxygen saturation, and HIF1 (hypoxia-inducible factor 1). One week after entering high-altitude areas, the above indicators were retested, and the PWC170 index was calculated to evaluate changes in endurance during high-altitude activities.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
PREVENTION
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
60
The observation group received air negative ion intervention every night for one week before entering the plateau (from 22:00 to 06:00). Before entering the plateau, they were in Putian City, China, where the temperature was about 28°C, humidity was about 68%, and the concentration of negative ions was approximately 800/cm³. The air negative ion converter used was the Mi Energy ET-21 model from RELTEC Medical Devices Corporation. Air negative and positive ion concentrations were measured using an ion detector (NKMH-103, HOKUTO, Japan) to ensure that each participant's room had a negative ion concentration of around 100,000/cm³.
No air negative ion intervention
The Ethics Committee of Putian 95 Hospital
Putian, Fujian, China
High-Altitude Acclimatization
Following their ascent to high altitudes, all participants completed the Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS) questionnaire daily, with AMS diagnosis based on the Lake Louise Criteria.
Time frame: two weeks
PWC170 Index
This study employed a two-stage quantitative load stepping exercise. The first stage involved stepping at a height of 30cm, a speed of 24 steps/min, and a duration of 4 minutes. After a 4-minute rest, the second stage was performed with the same step height and duration as the first stage but at a speed of 35 steps/min controlled by a metronome. Power and PWC170 were calculated using the following formulas: Power (Kg · m / min) = 4/3 \[Body weight (Kg) × Step height (m) × Total number of step-ups and step-downs (b/min)\] PWC170 (Kg · m / min) = N1 + (N2 - N1) \[(170 - f1) / (f2 - f1)\] Where N1 and N2 represent the power in the first and second stage loads, and f1 and f2 are the immediate pulse rate at the first and second stage loads (b/min).
Time frame: one day
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