title: Repeated sauna therapy reduces urinary 8-epi-prostaglandin F(2alpha).
abstract: We have reported that repeated sauna therapy improves impaired vascular endothelial function in a patient with coronary risk factors. We hypothesized that sauna therapy decreases urinary 8-epi-prostaglandin F(2alpha) (PGF(2alpha)) levels as a marker of oxidative stress and conducted a randomized, controlled study. Twenty-eight patients with at least one coronary risk factor were divided into a sauna group (n = 14) and non-sauna group (n = 14). Sauna therapy was performed with a 60 degrees C far infrared-ray dry sauna for 15 minutes and then bed rest with a blanket for 30 minutes once a day for two weeks. Systolic blood pressure and increased urinary 8-epi-PGF(2alpha) levels in the sauna group were significantly lower than those in the non-sauna group at two weeks after admission (110 +/- 15 mmHg vs 122 +/- 13 mmHg, P < 0.05, 230 +/- 67 pg/mg x creatinine vs 380 +/- 101 pg/mg x creatinine, P < 0.0001, respectively). These results suggest that repeated sauna therapy may protect against oxidative stress, which leads to the prevention of atherosclerosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Respiratory and Metabolic Medicine, Kagoshima University, Kagoshima, Japan.
authors.forename: Akinori
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Masuda
authors.forename: Masaaki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Miyata
authors.forename: Takashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kihara
authors.forename: Shinichi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Minagoe
authors.forename: Chuwa
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Tei
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015992:Body Mass Index; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000517:prevention & control; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000628:therapy / Q000652:urine*; D015237:Dinoprost / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000652:urine*; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate; D006400:Hematocrit; D006801:Humans; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000628:therapy / Q000652:urine*; D006973:Hypertension / Q000628:therapy / Q000652:urine*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase / Q000502:physiology; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D012307:Risk Factors; D029002:Steam Bath
chemical_list: C075750:8-epi-prostaglandin F2alpha; D015237:Dinoprost; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase