Whole-body cryotherapy at −90 °C for 9 weeks: effects on immune function, stress, and immune-related and vascular blood parameters in healthy adults : results of an exploratory one-armed pilot study
Background/Objectives: Whole-body cryotherapy (WBC), a brief exposure to extreme cold (−90 °C), has been proposed to modulate immune, metabolic, and stress-related pathways. This exploratory one-armed pilot study investigated the effects of an 18-session WBC protocol on immune markers, body composit...
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| Autori principali: | , , , |
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| Natura: | Article (Journal) |
| Lingua: | inglese |
| Pubblicazione: |
25 January 2026
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| In: |
Journal of Clinical Medicine
Year: 2026, Volume: 15, Fascicolo: 3, Pages: 1-14 |
| ISSN: | 2077-0383 |
| DOI: | 10.3390/jcm15030967 |
| Accesso online: | Verlag, kostenfrei, Volltext: https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm15030967 Verlag, kostenfrei, Volltext: https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0383/15/3/967 
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| Note sull'autore: | Punito Michael Aisenpreis, Sibylle Aisenpreis, Manuel Feisst and Robert Schleip |
| Riassunto: | Background/Objectives: Whole-body cryotherapy (WBC), a brief exposure to extreme cold (−90 °C), has been proposed to modulate immune, metabolic, and stress-related pathways. This exploratory one-armed pilot study investigated the effects of an 18-session WBC protocol on immune markers, body composition, and perceived stress in healthy adults. Methods: Nineteen participants (mean age 52.9 ± 9.8 years) completed 18 WBC sessions over 9 weeks (3-6 min each), followed by a 9-week follow-up. Assessments were performed at baseline (M1), post-intervention (M2), and follow-up (M3). Primary outcomes included immune parameters (lymphocytes, granulocytes, cytokines, soluble ACE2), body composition (waist circumference, water compartments, lean mass), and perceived stress (Trier Inventory for Chronic Stress, TICS). Results: Waist circumference decreased from 83.8 ± 5.7 cm (M1) to 80.2 ± 4.2 cm (M2) (p = 0.001; M1 vs. M2; p = 0.004). Total body water (p = 0.008), lean body mass (p = 0.008), intracellular water (p = 0.005), and extracellular water (p = 0.021) also showed time-dependent effects. Immune modulation included increased lymphocytes (25.6 ± 7.1% to 29.3 ± 8.3%, p = 0.012) and decreased granulocytes (63.5 ± 6.8% to 58.7 ± 7.9%, p = 0.011) at M2. Anti-inflammatory IL-10 (virus-stimulated) rose markedly (33.5 ± 29.3 to 63.5 ± 50.5 pg/mL, p < 0.001), while IFN-γ (virus-stimulated) increased over time (p = 0.031). Soluble ACE2 decreased at follow-up (0.5 ± 0.7 to 0.3 ± 0.4 ng/mL, p = 0.029). Perceived stress improved in several TICS domains, including Work Overload (p = 0.009) and Pressure to Succeed (p = 0.018). Conclusions: This pilot study demonstrates that repeated WBC at −90 °C induces measurable changes in immune regulation, body composition, and perceived stress. These findings support the feasibility and potential physiological relevance of WBC and providing effect-size estimates for future randomized controlled trials. |
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| Descrizione del documento: | Gesehen am 05.06.2026 |
| Descrizione fisica: | Online Resource |
| ISSN: | 2077-0383 |
| DOI: | 10.3390/jcm15030967 |