Longitudinal associations of sauna bathing with inflammation and oxidative stress: the KIHD prospective cohort study
Kunutsor SK, Laukkanen T, Laukkanen JA
Annals of medicine · 26 citations
Review labels
Neutral facts our review recorded about how this study was done. They describe method, never whether we like the result.
How it was studied
- Design
- Cohort study (indexed by PubMed)
- Studied in
- People
- Main outcome
- Mechanisms only
Who paid for it
- Funding
- Independent funding
- Nonprofit
- Foundation for Cardiovascular Research
- University or hospital
- Itä-Suomen Yliopisto
- University or hospital
- University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust
- Government
- National Institute for Health and Care Research
- Government
- Department of Health and Social Care
- University or hospital
- University of Bristol
- Nonprofit
- Sydäntutkimussäätiö
- Government
- National Institute for Health Research (NIHR)
Based on 8 listed funder(s).
Publication
- Published
- 2018-06-13 · Ann Med · vol. 50 · issue 5 · pp. 437–442
- Publisher
- Informa
- Cited
- 35 citations · more than 86% of similar papers · 1.9× the field average
- References
- 36 works
- Access
- Free to read
- Research areas
- Thermoregulation and physiological responses · Therapeutic Uses of Natural Elements · Exercise and Physiological Responses
- Keywords
- Medicine, Fibrinogen, Internal medicine, C-reactive protein, Bathing, Prospective cohort study, Gastroenterology, Cohort study, Confounding, Inflammation, Pathology
- MeSH
- humans, cardiovascular diseases, inflammation, gamma-glutamyltransferase, c-reactive protein, fibrinogen, leukocyte count, steam bath, risk factors, prospective studies, cross-sectional studies, risk reduction behavior, oxidative stress, time factors, middle aged, finland, female, male, biomarkers
3 authors
From GB, FI
- Setor K. Kunutsor · correspondingSouthmead Hospital; National Institute for Health and Care Research; University of Bristol; NIHR Bristol Biomedical Research Centre
- Tanjaniina LaukkanenUniversity of Eastern Finland
- Jari A. LaukkanenUniversity of Eastern Finland; Central Finland Health Care District; University of Jyväskylä
Abstract
Purpose
We sought to determine cross-sectional and longitudinal associations of frequency of sauna bathing with high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP), fibrinogen, leucocyte count and gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT).
Design
Baseline sauna bathing habits were assessed in 2269 men aged 42-61 years. Concentrations of hsCRP, fibrinogen, leucocyte count, and GGT were determined at baseline and 11 years later. The associations of sauna bathing frequency with baseline and 11-year hsCRP, fibrinogen, leucocyte count, and GGT levels were examined using robust multivariate regression analyses.
Results
In baseline analysis, 4-7 sauna sessions/week (compared with 1 sauna session/week) was associated with -0.84 mg/l (95% CI, -1.55, -0.14; p = .019) lower hsCRP; -0.07 g/l (95% CI, -0.15, 0.02; p = .112) lower fibrinogen; and -0.28 × 109/l (95% CI, -0.51, -0.06; p = .015) lower leucocyte count, after multivariable adjustment. In longitudinal analysis, the corresponding estimates were -1.66 mg/l (95% CI, -3.13, -0.19; p = .027); -0.16 g/l (95% CI, -0.31, -0.02; p = .031); and -0.49 × 109/l (95% CI, -0.85, -0.14; p = .007) respectively. Sauna bathing frequency was not associated with GGT at baseline and 11 years.
Conclusion
Observational evidence supports the hypothesis that reduction in inflammation may be one of the pathways linking frequent sauna bathing with decreased risk of acute and chronic disease conditions. KEY MESSAGES Cross-sectional evidence or short-term studies suggest Finnish sauna bathing may exert its beneficial health effects via reduction in inflammation and oxidative stress; however, the long-term effects of sauna bathing on these outcomes are uncertain. In this population-based prospective cohort study, frequent sauna sessions significantly decreased levels of inflammatory markers at baseline and 11-year follow-up; but had no effect on oxidative stress. The health benefits of sauna bathing may in part be mediated via reduced systemic inflammation.
Abstract via Europe PMC. Copyright remains with the authors or publisher.
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