Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40044835›Full record

SynthesisScientific reports2025

Whole-body cryotherapy can reduce the inflammatory response in humans: a meta-analysis based on 11 randomized controlled trials.

Jun He, Xinyu Zhang, Zhili Ge, Jingjing Shi, Shuwen Guo, Jun Chen

Abstract readMeta-Analysis
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Scientific reports, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
4citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

4 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Convection-basedWorld journal of experimental medicine · 2026
    Article
  2. Article
  3. Review
  4. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Jun HeChina Ordnance Industry Group-machine-environment Key Laboratory, Institute for Hygiene of Ordnance Industry, NO.12 Zhangba East Road, Yanta District, Xi'an, 710065, Shaanxi, China. hejun152@126.com.
Xinyu ZhangDepartment of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Jilin University, Changchun, 130021, Jilin, China.
Zhili GeDepartment of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Jilin University, Changchun, 130021, Jilin, China.
Jingjing ShiDepartment of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Jilin University, Changchun, 130021, Jilin, China.
Shuwen GuoChina Ordnance Industry Group-machine-environment Key Laboratory, Institute for Hygiene of Ordnance Industry, NO.12 Zhangba East Road, Yanta District, Xi'an, 710065, Shaanxi, China.
Jun ChenSanhang Institute for Brain Science and Technology, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an, 710129, Shaanxi, China. junchen_sibst@nwpu.edu.cn.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Whole-body cryotherapy (WBC) is increasingly being studied and used in various populations, mainly focusing on improving the body's regenerative capacity. More comprehensive summaries of anti-inflammatory responses are needed. To systemically assess the effect of WBC on the inflammatory response in humans based on randomized controlled trials (RCTs). Articles about RCTs accessing the effects of whole-body cryotherapy on the levels of inflammatory factors in humans published until August 1, 2024 had been searched in PubMed, Web of Science, Embase and Cochrane library databases. The general information of the included articles and exposure mode, the types and levels of inflammatory factors in serum were extracted. The PEDro scale was used to assess the risk of bias, and the GRADE scale was used to assess the level of certainty of evidence. RevMan 5.4 software were used to conduct the meta-analysis. A total of 11 RCTs in 11 articles were included, and the total sample size was 274. The level of IL-1β in serum of people exposed to WBC was lower than that in control group (SMD value was - 2.08pg/mL, P < 0.05), and athletes exposed to WBC were more likely to benefit from this. The level of IL-10 in serum of people exposed to WBC was higher than that in control group ( SMD value was 0.78 pg/mL, P < 0.05), and obese people exposed to WBC were more likely to benefit from this than athletes. WBC effectively reduces inflammation by lowering IL-1β and increasing IL-10 levels, offering significant benefits for athletes and obese individuals.

Indexed as

CryotherapyInflammationHumansInterleukin-10Interleukin-1betaRandomized Controlled Trials as TopicInterleukin-10Interleukin-1betaInflammationInflammatory factorsRandomized controlled trialsWhole-body cryotherapy

Identifiers

PMID40044835
PMCPMC11882895

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.