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Health resort treatment improved the neurosteroid profile in thyroidectomized women
D Jandova1, M Bicikova, M Hill
1Priessnitz Spa Resort, Jeseník, Czech Republic.
Objective:
The aim was to study the effect of climatotherapy and spa treatment on selected neuro- and immunomodulatory steroids known to affect well-being, and homocysteine, in a homogenous group of thyroidectomized women under standard substitution regime.
Methods:
Dehydroepiandrosterone, its precursors and metabolites, cortisol, major sex steroids, SHBG, and homocysteine were measured before and after three-weeks stay in a health resort Jeseník (Graefenberg) in Czech Republic. The studied group consisted of 21 women after total thyroidectomy which was performed at least 3 months before the admission to the spa resort. All patients received thyroid hormone substitution treatment which was not changed during their stay in that resort.
Results:
Out of the steroids investigated, five, namely dehydroepiandrosterone, androstenedione, testosterone, 7beta-hydroxy-dehydroepiandrosterone and cortisol were changed significantly after treatment. The most considerable was the decrease of cortisol and of homocysteine (p < 0.000 each).
Conclusion:
Spa resort treatment of thyroidectomized women substituted with thyroid hormones resulted in significant, mostly beneficial effects on steroid spectrum. This effect was achieved without any use of psychopharmacs.
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