PEMF Therapy for Coronary Artery Disease

Recruiting at1 trial location

Overseen by Bruce Johnson, PhD

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Travel: May Be Covered

Time Reimbursement: Varies

Trial Phase: Academic

Recruiting

Sponsor: Mayo Clinic

Must be taking: Optimal therapy

Disqualifiers: Severe lung disease, morbid obesity, others

No Placebo Group

Trial Summary

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial is testing a device called Bioboosti that uses gentle electromagnetic waves to help improve blood flow. It targets people with coronary artery disease who have poor blood flow to their heart. The treatment works by helping blood vessels function better and aiding tissue repair.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial protocol does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications. However, it mentions that participants should be on guideline-directed optimal therapy for stable ischemia, which suggests you may need to continue your current treatment.

Is PEMF therapy safe for humans?

PEMF therapy has been used in studies with athletes and for muscle soreness, showing it to be a safe and non-invasive treatment. No significant adverse effects have been reported in these contexts. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

How does the treatment Bioboosti differ from other treatments for coronary artery disease?

Bioboosti, using Pulsed Electromagnetic Field (PEMF) therapy, is unique because it uses low-energy magnetic fields to potentially improve blood flow and reduce inflammation, unlike traditional treatments that often involve medication or surgery. This non-invasive approach may offer a safer and less costly alternative by modulating biological processes without the need for drugs or invasive procedures. ^{1 6 7 8 9}

Research Team

Courtney Wheatley-Guy, PhD

Principal Investigator

Mayo Clinic

Bruce Johnson, PhD

Principal Investigator

Mayo Clinic

Eligibility Criteria

This trial is for adults over 18 with stable heart ischemia who can't have or won't get coronary intervention. They must be on optimal therapy, able to exercise (except for severe orthopedic issues), and have a left ventricular ejection fraction over 40%. Excluded are those with recent heart procedures, seizures, unstable angina, certain blood conditions, severe kidney disease, extreme obesity, pregnancy or breastfeeding.

Inclusion Criteria

I am following recommended treatment for stable heart-related chest pain.

There is proof from recent tests that you have had problems with blood flow to your heart.

Your heart's pumping ability is good, and it was checked within the last 3 months.

Exclusion Criteria

You are currently breastfeeding.

I have not had a heart attack in the last 3 months.

You have severe anemia with hemoglobin levels below 7 grams per deciliter.

Trial Timeline

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Treatment

Participants use the Bioboosti PEMF device three times per day for 180 days

26 weeks

Continuous daily use

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for safety and effectiveness after treatment

4 weeks

Treatment Details

Interventions

• Bioboosti (Electromagnetic Therapy)

Trial Overview The study tests the Bioboosti device's pulsed electromagnetic waves on improving blood flow in the heart of people with coronary artery disease. Participants will either receive active PEMF treatment or an inactive version to compare effects.

Participant Groups

Group I: Pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF) therapy Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

A portable PEMF device will be utilized. For the PEMF group, the device includes adjustable magnetic field strength range (X-axis: 0.22±0.05 mT, Y-axis: 0.20±0.05 mT and Z-axis: 0.06±0.02 mT) and working frequency (30±3Hz). This magnetic strength range and frequency will be maintained during 180 days of the study period. The subjects will be instructed to use their device three times per day: providing micromagnetic emitting on both hands (palms) during morning, afternoon and evening/night sessions. Each session takes 16 min (both hands, 8 min per hand) and thus subjects are exposed to therapy for 48 min per day. Subjects will use the device as outlined continuously up through the final days of testing.

Group II: Sham PEMF therapy Placebo Group 1 Intervention

The sham PEMF devices are modified to deliver no micromagnetic field when turned on. The subjects will be instructed to use their device three times per day: providing micromagnetic emitting on both hands (palms) during morning, afternoon and evening/night sessions. Each session takes 16 min (both hands, 8 min per hand) and thus subjects are exposed to therapy for 48 min per day. Subjects will use the device as outlined continuously up through the final days of testing.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Mayo Clinic

Lead Sponsor

Trials

3,427

Recruited

3,221,000+

Dr. Gianrico Farrugia

Mayo Clinic

Chief Executive Officer since 2019

MD from University of Malta Medical School

Dr. Richard Afable

Mayo Clinic

Chief Medical Officer

MD from Loyola Stritch School of Medicine

Findings from Research

BEMER therapy, which uses low-frequency pulsed electromagnetic fields, was tested on 14 male cross-country runners during preseason training, showing potential benefits in improving ventilatory threshold (VT) despite no significant changes in overall aerobic capacity (VO2Peak).

The study suggests that using PEMF therapy before and after training sessions may help enhance performance metrics like VT, indicating its possible role in optimizing recovery and training outcomes for endurance athletes.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Effects of Acute Low-Frequency Pulsed Electromagnetic Field Therapy on Aerobic Performance during a Preseason Training Camp: A Pilot Study. Tamulevicius, N., Wadhi, T., Oviedo, GR., et al.[2021]

Photobiomodulation therapy (PBMT) applied 30 minutes or 6 hours before cycling did not improve time to exhaustion or affect blood flow velocity and plasma nitrite levels in healthy untrained men, based on a study involving 13 participants.

The study found no significant changes in cardiorespiratory responses, blood acid-base balance, or lactate and potassium concentrations during exercise, indicating that PBMT at the tested dose may not enhance exercise performance.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Photobiomodulation 30 min or 6 h Prior to Cycling Does Not Alter Resting Blood Flow Velocity, Exercise-Induced Physiological Responses or Time to Exhaustion in Healthy Men. Dutra, YM., Claus, GM., Malta, ES., et al.[2022]

Pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF) therapy significantly reduced muscle soreness and improved recovery metrics like median frequency and electromechanical delay in 30 healthy male college students after inducing delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS).

While PEMF therapy showed benefits in alleviating DOMS symptoms, it did not enhance peak torque generation compared to a sham treatment, indicating that its primary effect may be on recovery rather than strength.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Effects of pulsed electromagnetic field therapy on delayed-onset muscle soreness in biceps brachii. Jeon, HS., Kang, SY., Park, JH., et al.[2019]

Photobiomodulation therapy (PBMT) significantly enhances muscle endurance in single-joint exercises and improves time to exhaustion in cycling, based on a meta-analysis of 37 studies involving 586 participants.

However, PBMT does not show effectiveness in improving muscle strength in single-joint exercises or performance metrics in running and swimming, indicating its benefits are specific to certain types of exercise.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Deconstructing the Ergogenic Effects of Photobiomodulation: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of its Efficacy in Improving Mode-Specific Exercise Performance in Humans. Dutra, YM., Malta, ES., Elias, AS., et al.[2023]

PEMFs (pulsed electromagnetic fields) have been shown to effectively promote bone healing in patients with nonunions, often preventing the need for amputation, and have been validated through several double-blind studies.

Recent research indicates that PEMFs can also have therapeutic effects on various clinical disorders, offering a non-invasive alternative to surgical treatments with lower risks and costs.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Fundamental and practical aspects of therapeutic uses of pulsed electromagnetic fields (PEMFs). Bassett, CA.[2008]

Pulsed electromagnetic fields (PEMFs) can significantly upregulate adenosine receptors (A2A and A3ARs) in various cells, leading to a reduction in proinflammatory cytokines, which suggests a potential anti-inflammatory effect.

PEMFs may enhance cell proliferation and tissue matrix production in joint cells, and they could protect implanted constructs from inflammation and hypoxia damage, indicating their therapeutic potential in tissue engineering and recovery.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Adenosine Receptors as a Biological Pathway for the Anti-Inflammatory and Beneficial Effects of Low Frequency Low Energy Pulsed Electromagnetic Fields. Varani, K., Vincenzi, F., Ravani, A., et al.[2018]

Pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF) exposure significantly enhances the proliferation of human adipose-derived stem cells (hASCs) and promotes their osteogenic differentiation, particularly at a specific intensity of 1 mT and frequency of 50 Hz.

After two weeks of PEMF treatment, there was an increase in bone-related gene expression, and after three weeks, proteins associated with bone formation, such as OPN, OCN, and RUNX-2, were also elevated, indicating a strong potential for PEMF in bone regeneration therapies.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The Effects of a Pulsed Electromagnetic Field on the Proliferation and Osteogenic Differentiation of Human Adipose-Derived Stem Cells. Yin, Y., Chen, P., Yu, Q., et al.[2018]

Pulsed Electromagnetic Field (PEMF) therapy has shown positive effects in preclinical studies on knee articular diseases, including promoting cell proliferation and reducing inflammation, making it a promising treatment option.

PEMF therapy is considered a valid conservative management strategy for conditions like early osteoarthritis and can also aid recovery after knee surgeries, such as arthroscopy or total knee arthroplasty.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Biophysical stimulation of the knee with PEMFs: from bench to bedside. Vicenti, G., Bizzoca, D., Nappi, VS., et al.[2019]

References

1. Switzerland pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Effects of Acute Low-Frequency Pulsed Electromagnetic Field Therapy on Aerobic Performance during a Preseason Training Camp: A Pilot Study. [2021]

2. Switzerland pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Photobiomodulation 30 min or 6 h Prior to Cycling Does Not Alter Resting Blood Flow Velocity, Exercise-Induced Physiological Responses or Time to Exhaustion in Healthy Men. [2022]

3. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Effects of pulsed electromagnetic field therapy on delayed-onset muscle soreness in biceps brachii. [2019]

4. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Therapeutic Photobiomodulation Before Strenuous Exercise Attenuates Shoulder Muscle Fatigue. [2023]

5. New Zealand pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Deconstructing the Ergogenic Effects of Photobiomodulation: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of its Efficacy in Improving Mode-Specific Exercise Performance in Humans. [2023]

6. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Fundamental and practical aspects of therapeutic uses of pulsed electromagnetic fields (PEMFs). [2008]

7. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Adenosine Receptors as a Biological Pathway for the Anti-Inflammatory and Beneficial Effects of Low Frequency Low Energy Pulsed Electromagnetic Fields. [2018]

8. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The Effects of a Pulsed Electromagnetic Field on the Proliferation and Osteogenic Differentiation of Human Adipose-Derived Stem Cells. [2018]

9. Italy pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Biophysical stimulation of the knee with PEMFs: from bench to bedside. [2019]