Changes in Plasma Lactate and Pyruvate Concentrations after Taking a Bath in Hot Deep Seawater

Abstract

The use of deep seawater (DSW) in thalassotherapy has begun in Japan. To clarify the health effects of DSW on the human body, we investigated the changes in plasma lactate and pyruvate concentrations, or subjective judgment scores, after bathing at rest in 9 healthy young men. Subjects were immersed for 10 minutes in DSW, surface seawater (SSW), and tap water (TW) heated to 42 degrees C. Plasma samples were collected before bathing, immediately after bathing, and 60 minutes after bathing. The scores were obtained by an oral comprehension test. In the DSW bathing, plasma lactate and pyruvate concentrations showed no significant changes immediately after bathing or 60 minutes after bathing. In contrast, subjects who bathed in SSW showed a significant decrease in lactate concentrations 60 minutes after bathing compared with immediately after bathing. Subjects who bathed in TW showed a significant increase in lactate concentrations immediately after bathing compared with before bathing, and they showed a significant decrease in lactate and pyruvate concentrations 60 minutes after bathing. We found no significant change in the thermal sensation score in the DSW bathing, though significant differences were found between before and immediately after bathing in the SSW and TW groups. Moreover, the score decreased significantly 60 minutes after bathing compared to immediately after bathing in the TW bathing. Higher concentrations of salts contained DSW such as sodium, nitrate-nitrogen, phosphate-phosphorus, and silicate-silicon may have a good influence on human health. Although additional studies are needed to support our findings, DSW is the mildest water to the human body among the three kinds of water, since no significant changes in the items measured were found only in DSW.

Individual reactions to viewing preferred video representations of the natural environment: A comparison of mental and physical reactions

“…Other research is looking at the effects of the presence of water because a growing body of evidence suggests that time spent in or near natural water environments, such as the coast, rivers, lakes, and inland waterways, can promote health and well‐being (European Centre for Environment and Human Health, ). In other Japanese studies that used tactile experiences, positive effects were found: bathing in hot, deep seawater significantly reduced the lactate concentration in the participants 60 min after bathing (Tsuchiya et al , ) and floating in seawater decreased salivary chromogranin A, one of the stress markers (Motomura, Arakawa, Toyosato, & Yokota, ).…”

Effects of Deep-Seawater on Blood Lipids and Pressure in High-Cholesterol Dietary Mice

“…As we know, seawater has been used in the therapy for atopic dermatitis for a long time. Recently, DSW has been also used for thalassotherapy (Tsuchiya et al. 2003a,b, 2004).…”

Effects of Japan Sea Proper Water on the growth ofLegionella pneumophila, Escherichia coli, andStaphylococcus aureus

“…Also, among JSPW, SSW, and PW, JSPW was shown to be mildest to the human body (7). In addition, subjects reported a sticky feeling after SSW bathing, whereas no sticky feeling was reported after JSPW bathing (6,7).…”

“…Previous studies regarding the effects of balneotherapy in the treatment of some diseases at the Dead Sea have been published (2)(3)(4)(5). Furthermore, we previously demonstrated that hot JSPW bathing had a beneficial influence on human health (6,7). Therefore, it is expected that use of JSPW will be promoted for human health.…”