The effect of geothermal water on skinfold and body circumferences

Abstract

Background. Balneotherapy is one of the basic methods of treatment widely used in natural medicine. Objectives. to investigate the effect of geothermal water on body mass index, body skinfolds and circumferences and serum cholesterol. Material and methods. a randomised, controlled, single-blinded follow-up interventional study was performed on 204 workers divided into 5 groups: balneotherapy with 20, 40 and 60 g/l total mineralisation, tap water and a control group. a 20-minute bath treatment was carried out on an everyday basis for 5 days a week over a 2-week period. body circumferences and skinfolds, body mass index and cholesterol were measured before and after the treatment. Results. the best effect reducing body volume after 2 weeks was obtained in the 20 g/l group (7.5 cm), but the biggest and longest effect was achieved in the 60 g/l group (8.4 cm from baseline). the greatest and longest-lasting decrease in skinfold was after 60 g/l procedures (22.4 mm from baseline). Significant positive changes for total cholesterol were seen after 20 (md 0.2) and 40 g/l (md 0.3) baths, for low-density lipoprotein after 40 g/l (md 0.1) baths, and for triglyceride levels after 20 g/l baths. there were no significant changes in all groups regarding body mass index. Conclusions. 20-minute baths of geothermal water are more effective than tap water for lowering of hypodermic fat content in the body and cholesterol level in serum. 60 g/l baths have a long-lasting effect on body fat volumes, and 20-40 g/l geothermal water is appropriate for an antilipidemic effect.