Effect of immersion temperature and balneotherapy on platelet glutathione metabolism

Journal/Book: XXIe Congrès international de Thalassothérapie Hammamet (Tunisie) 30 janvier-2 février 2000 S. 20. 2000;

Abstract: Y. OHTSUKA Hokkaido University School of Medicine Sapporo Japan To elucidate the effect of balneotherapy on platelet glutathione metabolism we performed two experiments. One is water immersion of healthy men at 3 different temperatures of 25°C 36°C and 42°C for 10 min. Levels of platelet lipid peroxides (LPO) tended to increase at 25°C and 42°C which indicated the presence of oxidative stress at these temperatures. Consequently antioxidative defense system was induced at 25°C and 42°C. Plateletglutathione (GSH) levels glutathione peroxidase (GPX) and glutathione reductase (GR) activities increased or tended to increase. The other is four weeks of balneotherapy in type II (non-insulin-dependent) diabetic patients. Levels of GSH on admission were well correlated with those of fasting plasma glucose (FPG r=0.692 p<0.05). After balneotherapy in well-controlled patients (FPG <150 mg/dl) the level increased (p<0.01) and in poorly controlled patients (FPG > 150 mg/dl) the value decreased (p<0.05). There was a negative correlation between GPX activities and the levels of FPG (r=-0.430 p<0.05). After balneotherapy the activity increased in 5 patients decreased in 3 patients and showed no changes in 4 patients. These data indicated that in diabetic patients 1 ) platelet GSH synthesis appeared to be induced in response to oxidative stress 2) lowered GPX activities showed that the antioxidative defense system was impaired and that 3) the platelet glutathione metabolism was partly improved by 4-week balneotherapy an effect thought to be dependent on the control status of plasma glucose levels. From these findings we conclude that 1 ) patients whose platelet antioxidative defense system is damaged such as those with diabetes mellitus had better not take hot or cold bath and that 2) balneotherapy improves platelet glutathione metabolism leading to normalization of platelet aggregation. wt

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