Clinical and biochemical effects of a 3-week program of diet combined with spa therapy in obese and diabetic patients: a pilot open study

Int J Biometeorol. 2015 Jul;59(7):783-9. doi: 10.1007/s00484-014-0894-5. Epub 2014 Sep 7.

Abstract

Obesity is a major risk factor for arterial hypertension, coronary artery disease, dyslipidemias, and type 2 diabetes. Spa therapy has long been used for treating obesity and its comorbidities. Enlargement of adipose tissue has been linked to a dysregulation of adipokine secretion and adipose tissue inflammation. Adipokines are currently investigated as potential drug targets in these conditions. Our primary aim was to assess the clinical efficacy of a 3-week program of diet combined with spa therapy in obese patients with and without type 2 diabetes. The secondary aim was to examine whether this combined program influences the response of serum levels of leptin, adiponectin, visfatin, and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein. Fifty obese males were enrolled and 21 of these featured a type 2 diabetes. During the 3-week period of the study, the patients were on a 1,000-kcal diet and were involved in mineral bath and total body's mud-pack applications (15 procedures). Patients were assessed at baseline and at the end of the therapy for clinical and biochemical parameters (total cholesterol, triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, glycemia, and adipokines). We showed that a 3-week program of spa therapy in obese patients induced significant decrease of body weight, body mass index, triglycerides, total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, glycemia, and serum levels of leptin and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein. So, a cycle of mud-bath therapy associated with a controlled diet may be a promising treatment for obesity and type 2 diabetes decreasing body weight and many risk factors for atherosclerosis and metabolic syndrome.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial

MeSH terms

  • Adiponectin / blood
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Balneology*
  • C-Reactive Protein / analysis
  • Cytokines / blood
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / blood
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / diet therapy
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / therapy*
  • Diet*
  • Humans
  • Leptin / blood
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Nicotinamide Phosphoribosyltransferase / blood
  • Obesity / blood
  • Obesity / diet therapy
  • Obesity / therapy*
  • Pilot Projects
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • ADIPOQ protein, human
  • Adiponectin
  • Cytokines
  • Leptin
  • C-Reactive Protein
  • Nicotinamide Phosphoribosyltransferase
  • nicotinamide phosphoribosyltransferase, human