Table 1.
Studies on the effects of xenon and oxygen inhalation on erythropoiesis and steroidogenesis in humans.
| Article title | Number of participants and their physical status | Intervention | Results |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stoppe C et al., 2016 | 24 healthy individuals | Randomly assigned either to a group spontaneously breathing xenon 30% (Xe/O2 30%/60%) or a group breathing control gas (N2/O2 40%/60%) for 45-min. | The administration of xenon significantly increased erythropoietin levels 8-h after exposure, peaking at 24-h compared to the baseline values and remained traceable in blood and exhalation probes until 24-h after exposure. In contrast, no significant change was observed in the control group. |
| Dias KA et al., 2019 | 22 healthy individuals | Three subanesthetic concentrations of xenon: 30% fraction of inspired xenon (FiXe) for 20-min, 50% FiXe for 5-min, and 70% FiXe for 2-min. To determine the chronic effects, eight subjects breathed 70% FiXe for 2-min on seven consecutive days, and EPO, total blood, and plasma volume were measured. Phase II involved assessment of 12 subjects for EPO, total blood volume, maximal oxygen uptake, and 3-km time before and after random assignment to 4-week of xenon or sham gas inhalation. | FiXe 50% and 70% stimulated an increase in EPO at 6-h and at 192-h post-inhalation. Seven consecutive days of dosing significantly elevated plasma volume. Phase II showed no significant effect. Acute exposure to subanesthetic doses of xenon caused a consistent increase in EPO, and seven consecutive days of xenon inhalation significantly expanded plasma volume. However, this physiological response appeared to be transient, and 4-week of xenon inhalation did not stimulate increases in plasma volume or erythropoiesis, leaving cardiorespiratory fitness and athletic performance unchanged. |