Int J Clin Pharmacol Res. 2004;24(2-3):39-47. Links
Clinical improvement and serum amino acid levels after mud-bath therapy.
Bagnato G, De Filippis LG, Morgante S, Morgante ML, Farina G, Caliri A, Romano C, D'Avola G, Pinelli P, Calpona PR, Streva P, Resta ML, De Luca G, Di Giorgio R.
Department of Rheumatology, University of Messina, Messina, Italy.
Spa therapy is an ancient approach to degenerative diseases such as osteoarthritis, but until today this tradition has been predominantly empiric and intuitive and few studies have focused on the biological changes derived from this treatment. We assessed the clinical efficacy and variations in amino acid concentrations in serum samples from patients with knee osteoarthritis who underwent spa therapy and put forward an explanation of their role in clinical improvement. Thirty-one patients with knee osteoarthritis who underwent spa therapy underwent a clinical evaluation, and serum amino acid levels were assayed before and after a cycle of balneotherapy and mud-pack therapy. The thermal treatments were carried out in Sciacca. Analysis of the data showed a significant reduction in pain and improvement in joint motility. Serum concentrations of tryptophan, cysteine and citrulline were significantly higher than at baseline. No significant differences were observed in serum levels of the remaining free amino acids. The results of this study confirm the efficacy of spa therapy in the treatment of osteoarthritis. A possible role for changes in serum amino acid concentration is discussed.
PMID: 15689050 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
Related Links
· The efficacy of balneotherapy and mud-pack therapy in patients with knee osteoarthritis. [Joint Bone Spine. 2007]
· Spa therapy for gonarthrosis: a prospective study. [Rheumatol Int. 1995]
· [Beta-endorphin and stress hormones in patients affected by osteoarthritis undergoing thermal mud therapy] [Minerva Med. 2000]
· Clinical efficacy and cost-effectiveness evidence of spa therapy in osteoarthritis. The results of "Naiade" Italian Project. [Panminerva Med. 2003]
· Effect of sulfur baths on antioxidative defense systems, peroxide concentrations and lipid levels in patients with degenerative osteoarthritis. [Forsch Komplementarmed Klass Naturheilkd. 2002]
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