Thank you for finding that. It seems like intermittent cold exposure may be the primary key then. I wonder if breathing exercises help modulate the bodies response to the cold. More oxygen available may mean better brown fat thermogenesis for example.
> an increase in CO2 results in a decrease in blood pH,[2] resulting in hemoglobin proteins releasing their load of oxygen. Conversely, a decrease in carbon dioxide provokes an increase in pH, which results in hemoglobin picking up more oxygen.
So lowering carbon dioxide concentration (through an activity like hyperventilation) will cause hemoglobin to pick up more oxygen molecules. And increasing carbon dioxide levels will release those molecules. Fascinating.
I don't see why the researchers would lump all three treatments together into the intervention group.
There is this, seems to suggest cold exposure: https://physoc.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.14814/phy2...