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

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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.

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Abbreviations

TNF:

Tumor necrosis factor

hs-CRP:

High-sensitivity C-reactive protein

BMI:

Body mass index

NaCl:

Sodium chloride

HDL-C:

High-density lipoprotein cholesterol

LDL-C:

Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol

EIA:

Enzyme immunoassay

ELISA:

Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay

LMW:

Low molecular weight

HMW:

High molecular weight

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Medicine, Surgery and Neuroscience, Rheumatology Unit, University of Siena, “Le Scotte” Policlinico, Viale Bracci 1, 53100, Siena, Italy

    Antonella Fioravanti, Nicola Antonio Pascarelli & Chiara Giannitti

  2. Thermal Hospital, Ciechocinek, Poland

    Przemysław Adamczyk

  3. Department of Medicine, Surgery and Neuroscience, Pharmacology Unit “Giorgio Segre”, University of Siena, Siena, Italy

    Renato Urso

  4. Department of Balneology and Physical Medicine Collegium Medicum in Bydgoszcz, UMK, Bydgoszcz, Poland

    Michał Tołodziecki & Irena Ponikowska

Authors
  1. Antonella Fioravanti
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  2. Przemysław Adamczyk
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  3. Nicola Antonio Pascarelli
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  4. Chiara Giannitti
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  5. Renato Urso
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  6. Michał Tołodziecki
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  7. Irena Ponikowska
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Correspondence to Antonella Fioravanti.

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Fioravanti, A., Adamczyk, P., Pascarelli, N.A. et al. 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 59, 783–789 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00484-014-0894-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00484-014-0894-5

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