Date of Award

12-2024

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Medical Science (DMSc)

Abstract

CE has received attention during the past decade as a modality to decrease inflammation, improve mood, increase mental resiliency, and to facilitate physical exercise recovery. This “treatment” has been in use for centuries having been mentioned in ancient Greek texts. CE is also a common cultural practice of Nordic countries, with its traditional uses centering on the therapeutic effects improved health and recovery. These effects are predominantly moderated through the activation of the sympathetic nervous system (SNS) by changes in skin temperature, which subsequently induces the release of catecholamines to conserve body heat and prevent the onset of hypothermia. The catecholamines, which include epinephrine, norepinephrine, and dopamine, are well known for their vasoconstrictive, thermogenic, and euphoric properties, driving the fight or flight response, which in turn provides the desired effect for those pursuing therapeutic deliberate cold exposure.CE has also been linked to the activation of brown adipose tissue (BAT) as an additional compensatory mechanism against hypothermia. This is theoretically achieved by mitochondrial uncoupling which allows heat production without the coupling of adenosine triphosphate generation within the electron transport system.

Deliberate cold exposure (CE) could be a complementary treatment for patients with T2DM through the activation of BAT and mitochondrial uncoupling. The purpose of this scoping review is to identify the use of CE as a treatment for patients with T2DM and to identify and condense various sources of evidence to help guide future research or clinical practice as it pertains to CE, BAT, and diabetes.

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