title: Improving homocysteine levels through balneotherapy: effects of sulphur baths.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Plasma homocysteine (tHcy) is a risk factor for cardio-vascular diseases. Furthermore it has been associated with antioxidative status. Additionally balneotherapeutic sulphur baths have been shown to influence antioxidative status.
  
  
  METHODS
  40 patients with degenerative osteoarthrosis were randomised into two equal groups, a treatment group, receiving stationary spa therapy plus daily sulphur baths (sulphur group) and a control group receiving spa therapy alone (control group). Blood tHcy levels and urinary 8-OHdG (an indicator for oxidative stress) were measured at the beginning and the end of spa therapy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  tHcy (micromol/l) was significantly reduced from 11.41 (+/-2.91) to 10.55 (+/-2.28) in the sulphur group (p=0.016) and rose insignificantly from 12.93 (+/-2.28) to 13.80 (+/-3.87) in the control group. 8-OHdG (ng 8-OHdG/mg creatinine) declined from 18.00 (+/-18.28) to 11.16 (+/-5.33) in the sulphur group (n.s.) and from 17.91 (+/-5.87) to 18.17 (+/-5.70) in the control group (n.s.). Differences between the two groups showed significant effects of sulphur baths for tHcy (p=0.006) but not for 8-OHdG (p=0.106).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Sulphur baths exert beneficial effects on plasma tHcyt whereas effects on 8-OHdG seem to be unlikely.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Vienna, Schwarzspanierstrasse 17, Vienna A-1090, Austria. Valentin.Leibetseder@univie.ac.at
authors.forename: Valentin
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Leibetseder
authors.forename: Gerhard
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Strauss-Blasche
authors.forename: Franz
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Holzer
authors.forename: Wolfgang
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Marktl
authors.forename: Cem
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ekmekcioglu
mesh_terms: D000080242:8-Hydroxy-2'-Deoxyguanosine; D000975:Antioxidants; D001494:Baths; D003401:Creatine / Q000652:urine; D003849:Deoxyguanosine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000652:urine; D005260:Female; D006710:Homocysteine / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010003:Osteoarthritis / Q000097:blood / Q000628:therapy / Q000652:urine; D013455:Sulfur / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D006710:Homocysteine; D013455:Sulfur; D000080242:8-Hydroxy-2'-Deoxyguanosine; D003849:Deoxyguanosine; D003401:Creatine