The new insights of hyperbaric oxygen therapy: focus on inflammatory bowel disease

Inflammatory bowel diseases, with an increasing incidence, pose a significant health burden. Although there have been significant advances in the treatment of IBD, more progress is still needed. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) has been shown to treat a host of conditions such as carbon monoxide poisoning, decompression sickness, and gas gangrene. In the last few years, there has been an increase in research into the use of HBOT as an adjunct to conventional treatment for IBD. Related researches have shown that HBOT may exert its therapeutic effects by decreasing oxidative stress, inhibiting mucosal inflammation, promoting ulcer healing, influencing gut microbes and reducing the incidence of IBD complications. This paper aims to provide a comprehensive review of experimental and clinical trials exploring hyperbaric oxygen therapy as a supplement to IBD treatment strategies.