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Fatty diet, active hydrophobic spots, and decompression sickness.
1Corresponding author: The Israel Naval Medical Institute, Israel Defence Forces Medical Corps, Haifa, Israel; Eliachar Research Laboratory, Western Galilee Medical Centre, Nahariya, Israel, 12 Klil-Hakhoresh, Rakefet, D.N. Misgav 2017500, Israel, arieli1940@gmail.com.
Diving and Hyperbaric Medicine
|September 11, 2018
Summary
A high-fat diet increases decompression bubbles in divers by promoting the formation of active hydrophobic spots (AHS) in blood vessels. These spots, derived from lung surfactant, enlarge with fatty components, leading to more severe decompression stress.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Science
- Physiology
- Diving Medicine
Background:
- A study found divers with higher fat intake and serum lipids experienced more decompression bubbles.
- Previous explanations focused on dissolved nitrogen in serum fats, but this is challenged.
- Decompression bubbles are now understood to originate from gas micronuclei, specifically nanobubbles.
Discussion:
- Nanobubbles form on hydrophobic surfaces, like phospholipid multilayers (active hydrophobic spots or AHS) in blood vessels, derived from lung surfactant.
- These AHS appear stable, growing with age and accumulating fatty components from the blood.
- The study hypothesizes that increased dietary fat leads to larger AHS, increasing bubble formation risk.
Key Insights:
- High-fat diets correlate with increased decompression bubble formation in divers.
- Active hydrophobic spots (AHS), originating from lung surfactant, are identified as the source of gas micronuclei.
- Dietary fat may contribute to AHS enlargement, elevating the risk of decompression illness.
Outlook:
- Further research should investigate the specific fatty components in plasma and their role in AHS formation.
- Understanding AHS composition and dynamics could lead to new strategies for preventing decompression sickness.
- This research reframes the understanding of decompression bubble etiology, linking diet to vascular surface properties.
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