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. 2024 Aug 29;14(9):1082.
doi: 10.3390/life14091082.

The Effects of Body Cold Exposure (Cryolipolysis) on Fat Mass and Plasma Cholesterol

Rodrigo Alvaro Brandão Lopes-Martins  1   2 , Ludymilla Vicente Barbosa  3 , Mirian Martins Barbosa Sousa  1 , Anna Beatriz Lobo  1 , Elize Leonice da Rocha Santos  3 , Alberto Souza de Sá Filho  4 , Matheus Bernardes Souza  1 , Jivago Carneiro Jaime  1 , Constanza Thaise Xavier da Silva  1 , Carlos Ruiz-Silva  2 , Patrícia Sardinha Leonardo  3
Affiliations

The Effects of Body Cold Exposure (Cryolipolysis) on Fat Mass and Plasma Cholesterol

Rodrigo Alvaro Brandão Lopes-Martins et al. Life (Basel). .

Abstract

Introduction: This study investigates the impact of cryolipolysis on reducing localized fat and altering plasma lipid profiles in 30 overweight and obese women. Conducted at the Health Technology Laboratory of the Evangelical University of Goiás, this clinical research adhered to stringent ethical guidelines.

Methods: Participants underwent three cryolipolysis sessions, with comprehensive assessments of body composition and plasma lipids performed pre- and post-intervention.

Results: Significant findings include a reduction in abdominal fat mass by an average of 4.1 kg and a decrease in BMI by 0.7 points (p < 0.05). Notably, total cholesterol levels decreased by an average of 15.7 mg/dL, and LDL cholesterol saw a reduction of 10.2 mg/dL (p < 0.01), with no significant changes in HDL cholesterol or triglyceride levels. These results suggest that cryolipolysis, in conjunction with standardized dietary control, offers a non-invasive alternative to surgical fat reduction, potentially mitigating cardiovascular risks associated with obesity.

Conclusions: The study confirms the efficacy of cryolipolysis in targeted fat reduction and underscores its role in improving key cardiovascular risk factors. These findings warrant further exploration into the long-term benefits of cryolipolysis in metabolic health management and not only for aesthetic treatments.

Keywords: body fat reduction; cardiovascular risk factors; cryolipolysis; metabolic health; non-invasive body contouring; obesity; plasma lipid profile; therapeutic cryotherapy.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflicts for this manuscript.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Mean and standard deviation of reduction of fat mass (kg), before and after three sessions of cryolipolysis—(A). Mean and standard deviation of reduction of BMI, before and after three sessions of cryolipolysis—(B). The p value was considered significant when equal to or less 0.05 N = 30 (* p ≤ 0.05; *** p ≤ 0.001).
Figure 2
Figure 2
Mean and standard deviation of plasma lipids, before and after three sessions of cryolipolysis—(A). Mean and standard deviation of total cholesterol. (B) Mean and standard deviation of HDL cholesterol. (C) Mean and standard deviation of LDL cholesterol. (D) Mean and standard deviation of glycerides before and after three sessions of cryolipolysis. The p value was considered significant when equal to or less 0.05. N = 30, (* p ≤ 0.05; ** p ≤ 0.01).
Figure 3
Figure 3
Responders and non-responders to cryolipolysis treatment. (A) refers to the effects of treatment on total cholesterol; (B) refers to the effects of treatment on HDL levels; and (C) refers to the effects of treatment on LDL levels, N = 30.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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