[Biological mechanisms of radon therapy: experimental and clinical aspects. (Literature review)]

Application of radon baths with natural and artificial radon-containing waters is one of the common methods of non-drug therapy in the treatment of inflammatory and degenerative diseases of different origin in sanatoriums and wellness centers in many Russian and foreign health resorts. Radon therapy is most often used as an additional method in the structure of multimodal health resort treatment in diseases of the musculoskeletal system. The article presents an analysis of Russian and foreign experience in the application of radon-containing mineral waters and evidence-based approaches in the study of cellular and molecular mechanisms of radon action. Experimental data on the quantification of intake and excretion of radon and its daughter products after the application of mineral water with different radon concentrations are provided on the biokinetic models. According to the literature, radon procedures have analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects, affecting osteoclastogenesis and bone resorption. The authors associate this therapeutic effect of radon with contribution of the immune system and change in the Th17/Treg-cell ratio after receiving balneotherapy. It has been noted that a deeper study of the development of therapeutic effects from radon procedures application within the framework of high-quality placebo-controlled biomedical studies in experiment and clinical setting is needed in order to increase the evidence level of therapy using radon as well as for assessment of potential side effects and risks of carcinogenesis.