Is Balneotherapy Protective Against Oxidative Stress? A Pilot Study
Agnes Szenczi1, Ivan Peter2, Nora Nusser2
1Department of Public Health Medicine, Medical School, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary.
Background/Aim:
This study aimed to research the effects of Harkány healing water on oxidative stress. The study was performed in a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind setup.
Patients And Methods:
Twenty patients with psoriasis who underwent a 3-week-long inward balneotherapy-based rehabilitation were enrolled. Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) score and Malondialdehyde (MDA) - a marker of oxidative stress - were determined, on admission and before discharge. Patients were treated with dithranol.
Results:
The mean PASI score - determined on admission and before discharge - decreased significantly after the 3-week-long rehabilitation 8.17 vs. 3.51 (p<0.001). The baseline MDA value of patients with psoriasis was significantly higher compared to controls (3.0±3.5 vs. 8.4±7.4) (p=0.018). MDA levels of patients receiving placebo water increased significantly compared to MDA levels of patients receiving healing water (p=0.049).
Conclusion:
The effectiveness of dithranol resides in the formation of reactive oxygen species. No increased oxidative stress was found in the patients treated with healing water, thus healing water seems to be protective against oxidative stress. However, further research is needed to confirm these preliminary results.
More Related Videos
11:00Methods to Inhibit Bacterial Pyomelanin Production and Determine the Corresponding Increase in Sensitivity to Oxidative Stress
Published on: August 31, 2015
06:19Evaluation of Oxidative Stress in Biological Samples Using the Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances Assay
Published on: May 12, 2020