Effect of Shirts with 42% Celliant™ Fiber on tcPO(2) Levels and Grip Strength in Healthy Subjects: A Placebo-controlled Clinical Trial

Celliant™ fabric contains quartz, silicon oxide and titanium oxide particles embedded into polymer fibers. Garments woven with Celliant™ yarns can be activated by body heat (conduction, convection and radiation) and remit the energy as far infrared radiation (FIR) back into the body. Wearing Celliant garments has been shown to increase blood flow and oxygen levels in the skin. In the present study we recruited twenty-four healthy volunteers (18–60 years of age) to wear a placebo shirt for 90 minutes, and after a 15-minute break, to wear a real Celliant shirt for 90 minutes. The mean transcutaneous oxygen (tcPO(2)) measured over two sites (biceps and abdomen) was significantly increased at 3 time points (30, 60, and 90 minutes) by between 5–8% (P<0.05) in Celliant vs. placebo. The mean grip strength in the dominant hand measured at 90 minutes was 12.44% higher after wearing Celliant vs. after placebo (p=0.0002). There was a small but significant increase in systolic blood pressure (113.71 vs. 109.38; p=0.02) but no statistically significant changes in diastolic or mean blood pressure, heart rate, or skin temperature. These data provide more evidence of the physiological effects of FIR emitting garments and suggest they could be used for athletic training and recovery.