Weight Loss and Fat Metabolism During Multi-Day High-Altitude Sojourns: A Hypothesis Based on Adipocyte Signaling

Overview

Journal Life (Basel)

Specialty Biology

Date 2022 Apr 23

PMID 35455035

Authors

Stephan Pramsohler

Martin Burtscher

Linda Rausch

Nikolaus C Netzer

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Several publications and random observations have reported weight loss in high-altitude sojourners of both sexes. This could be a result of multiple adaptations, which hypoxia and mountaineering provoke on a cellular and organic level. Several publications have discussed the effect on appetite-regulating hormones to be one of the main contributing factors. We aimed to review the available data and show the current state of knowledge regarding nutritional aspects in high altitude with a special focus on fatty dietary forms. To reach this aim we conducted a literature search via PubMed according to the PRISMA 2020 protocol to identify relevant studies. We found that very few studies cover this field with scientifically satisfying evidence. For final analysis, reviews as well as papers that were not clearly related to the topic were excluded. Six articles were included discussing hormonal influences and the impact of exercise on appetite regulation as well as genetic factors altering metabolic processes at altitude. Leptin expression seems to be the biggest contributor to appetite reduction at altitude with an initial increase followed by a decrease in the course of time at high altitude. Its expression is greatly dependent on the amount of white adipose tissue. Since the expression of leptin is associated with an increased β-oxidation of fatty acids, a high-fat diet could be advantageous at a certain time point in the course of high-altitude sojourns.

Citing Articles

Nutrition, hydration and supplementation considerations for mountaineers in high-altitude conditions: a narrative review.

Karpecka-Galka E, Fraczek B Front Sports Act Living. 2024; 6:1435494.

PMID: 39584049 PMC: 11582915. DOI: 10.3389/fspor.2024.1435494.

Exploring the Impact of Resistance Training at Moderate Altitude on Metabolic Cytokines in Humans: Implications for Adipose Tissue Dynamics.

Perez-Regalado S, Leon J, Padial P, Benavente C, Almeida F, Bonitch-Gongora J Int J Mol Sci. 2024; 25(21).

PMID: 39518972 PMC: 11546518. DOI: 10.3390/ijms252111418.

Astaxanthin Supplementation Effects in Right Ventricle of Rats Exposed to Chronic Intermittent Hypobaric Hypoxia.

Pena E, El Alam S, Gonzalez C, Cortes I, Aguilera D, Flores K Antioxidants (Basel). 2024; 13(10).

PMID: 39456521 PMC: 11504862. DOI: 10.3390/antiox13101269.

miRNA and leptin signaling in metabolic diseases and at extreme environments.

Mondal S, Rathor R, Singh S, Suryakumar G Pharmacol Res Perspect. 2024; 12(4):e1248.

PMID: 39017237 PMC: 11253706. DOI: 10.1002/prp2.1248.

Helpful to Live Healthier? Intermittent Hypoxic/Ischemic Training Benefits Vascular Homeostasis and Lipid Metabolism with Activating SIRT1 Pathways in Overweight/Obese Individuals.

Jiao X, Liu M, Li R, Li J, Wang L, Niu G Obes Facts. 2024; 17(2):131-144.

PMID: 38185107 PMC: 10987187. DOI: 10.1159/000536093.

References

Netzer N, Gatterer H, Faulhaber M, Burtscher M, Pramsohler S, Pesta D . Hypoxia, Oxidative Stress and Fat. Biomolecules. 2015; 5(2):1143-50. PMC: 4496714. DOI: 10.3390/biom5021143. View

Barbacini P, Casas J, Torretta E, Capitanio D, Maccallini G, Hirschler V . Regulation of Serum Sphingolipids in Andean Children Born and Living at High Altitude (3775 m). Int J Mol Sci. 2019; 20(11). PMC: 6600227. DOI: 10.3390/ijms20112835. View

McClelland G, Hochachka P, Weber J . Carbohydrate utilization during exercise after high-altitude acclimation: a new perspective. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1998; 95(17):10288-93. PMC: 21501. DOI: 10.1073/pnas.95.17.10288. View

Wasse L, Sunderland C, King J, Batterham R, Stensel D . Influence of rest and exercise at a simulated altitude of 4,000 m on appetite, energy intake, and plasma concentrations of acylated ghrelin and peptide YY. J Appl Physiol (1985). 2011; 112(4):552-9. DOI: 10.1152/japplphysiol.00090.2011. View

Dunnwald T, Gatterer H, Faulhaber M, Arvandi M, Schobersberger W . Body Composition and Body Weight Changes at Different Altitude Levels: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Front Physiol. 2019; 10:430. PMC: 6477059. DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2019.00430. View

Debevec T, Simpson E, Macdonald I, Eiken O, Mekjavic I . Exercise training during normobaric hypoxic confinement does not alter hormonal appetite regulation. PLoS One. 2014; 9(6):e98874. PMC: 4041840. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0098874. View

Sawka M, Cheuvront S, Kenefick R . Hypohydration and Human Performance: Impact of Environment and Physiological Mechanisms. Sports Med. 2015; 45 Suppl 1:S51-60. PMC: 4672008. DOI: 10.1007/s40279-015-0395-7. View

Kayser B . Nutrition and energetics of exercise at altitude. Theory and possible practical implications. Sports Med. 1994; 17(5):309-23. DOI: 10.2165/00007256-199417050-00004. View

Wiesner S, Haufe S, Engeli S, Mutschler H, Haas U, Luft F . Influences of normobaric hypoxia training on physical fitness and metabolic risk markers in overweight to obese subjects. Obesity (Silver Spring). 2009; 18(1):116-20. DOI: 10.1038/oby.2009.193. View

10.

Shaw A, Toth B, Arianti R, Csomos I, Poliska S, Vamos A . BMP7 Increases UCP1-Dependent and Independent Thermogenesis with a Unique Gene Expression Program in Human Neck Area Derived Adipocytes. Pharmaceuticals (Basel). 2021; 14(11). PMC: 8625022. DOI: 10.3390/ph14111078. View

11.

Cheng H, Sebaa R, Malholtra N, Lacoste B, El Hankouri Z, Kirby A . Naked mole-rat brown fat thermogenesis is diminished during hypoxia through a rapid decrease in UCP1. Nat Commun. 2021; 12(1):6801. PMC: 8610999. DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-27170-2. View

12.

Young A, Berryman C, Kenefick R, Derosier A, Margolis L, Wilson M . Altitude Acclimatization Alleviates the Hypoxia-Induced Suppression of Exogenous Glucose Oxidation During Steady-State Aerobic Exercise. Front Physiol. 2018; 9:830. PMC: 6046468. DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2018.00830. View

13.

Santiago-Fernandez C, Martin-Reyes F, Tome M, Gutierrez-Repiso C, Fernandez-Garcia D, Ocana-Wilhelmi L . Oxidized LDL Increase the Proinflammatory Profile of Human Visceral Adipocytes Produced by Hypoxia. Biomedicines. 2021; 9(11). PMC: 8615639. DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines9111715. View

14.

Cowburn A, Macias D, Summers C, Chilvers E, Johnson R . Cardiovascular adaptation to hypoxia and the role of peripheral resistance. Elife. 2017; 6. PMC: 5648530. DOI: 10.7554/eLife.28755. View

15.

Jung S, Sanchez-Gurmaches J, Guertin D . Brown Adipose Tissue Development and Metabolism. Handb Exp Pharmacol. 2018; 251:3-36. PMC: 7330484. DOI: 10.1007/164_2018_168. View

16.

Beall C . Two routes to functional adaptation: Tibetan and Andean high-altitude natives. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2007; 104 Suppl 1:8655-60. PMC: 1876443. DOI: 10.1073/pnas.0701985104. View

17.

Wang B, Wood I, Trayhurn P . Dysregulation of the expression and secretion of inflammation-related adipokines by hypoxia in human adipocytes. Pflugers Arch. 2007; 455(3):479-92. PMC: 2040175. DOI: 10.1007/s00424-007-0301-8. View

18.

Fuhrmann D, Olesch C, Kurrle N, Schnutgen F, Zukunft S, Fleming I . Chronic Hypoxia Enhances β-Oxidation-Dependent Electron Transport via Electron Transferring Flavoproteins. Cells. 2019; 8(2). PMC: 6406996. DOI: 10.3390/cells8020172. View

19.

Hamad N, Travis S . Weight loss at high altitude: pathophysiology and practical implications. Eur J Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2005; 18(1):5-10. DOI: 10.1097/00042737-200601000-00002. View

20.

Maixner F, Turaev D, Cazenave-Gassiot A, Janko M, Krause-Kyora B, Hoopmann M . The Iceman's Last Meal Consisted of Fat, Wild Meat, and Cereals. Curr Biol. 2018; 28(14):2348-2355.e9. PMC: 6065529. DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2018.05.067. View