Experimental and Clinical Studies on the Effects of Hot-Spring Bathing on the Metabolism of Vitamin B1 in Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients
- VernacularTitle:泉浴とリウマチ患者ビタミンB1代謝に関する研究
- Author:
Masataro HAGA
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- From:The Journal of The Japanese Society of Balneology, Climatology and Physical Medicine
1962;26(3-4):149-170
- CountryJapan
- Language:Japanese
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Abstract:
Atempts have been made to study the effects of single and successive bathing upon the metabolism of vitamin B1 in rheumatoid arthritis patients, by using the Bunin-no-yu (muriated saline spring) of Narugo Spa, Miyagi Prefecture, and the peloid (chief ingredient, SiO2, Al2O3, etc.) of Goshogake Spa, Akita Prefecture.
The results may be summarized as follows:
1. Blood level and urinary excretion of vitamin B1 in 24 hours in rheumatoid arthritis patients were significantly lower than healthy subjects. This may suggest that the secondary vitamin B1 defficiency due to the decrease of vitamin B1 utilization is caused by the various kinds of internal factors. In fibrositis, the patients' level was close to that of healthy subjects.
2. The results were also obtained by observing the effects of hot-spring bathing upon blood level and urinary excretion of vitamin B1 in rheumatoid arthritis patients.
1) Immediately after hot-spring bathing, the blood level of vitamin B1 was decreased in healthy subjects, but thereafter it was increased and showed a tendency to return to the former level in 60 to 90 minutes; it had little variation and individual difference. In fibrositis patients, the variation was about the same as that of healthy subjects but it was fairly unstable. In rheumatoid arthritis patients, it showed significant variation and remarkable individual difference, and it had no diffenite tendency. These were the same as in Bunin-no-yu and the peloid bathing. This meant that hot spring bathing acted as the unspecific stimuli to which rheumatoid arthritis patients showed a very unstable reaction in vitamin B1 metabolism. This suggested unstable status of autonomic nervous system in rheumatoid arthritis patients.
2) In the vitamin B1 tolerance test, rheumatoid arthritis patients showed the type II or the mixed type in Inoue's classification.
A suggestion might be made that the secondary vitamin B1 defficiency was caused by the disturbance of vitamin B1 metabolism due to anemia, dysproteinemia, disturbance of liver function and adrenocortical insufficiency.
The observation of the effects of single bathing upon the vitamin B1 tolerance test showed that the tolerated vitamin B1 was augmented to be absorbed but that the vitamin B1 metabolism was not improved: the temporary disturbance of vitamin B1 utilization was observed.
3. The observation of the effects of successive bathing led to the followings:
1) In successive bathing, the blood level of total vitamin B1 and co-carboxylase were both likely to increase, especially in a low blood level group, and the metabolism of vitamin B1 was improved.
2) Both the effects of single bathing and individual differances became smaller in successive bathing, showing a tendency almost the same as that of healthy subjects.
This might suggest that the unstable status of autonomic nervous system observed before bathing was gradually controlled by successive bathing.
3) The vitamin B1 tolerance test in rheumatoid arthritis patients tended to come nearer to the normal type by successive bathing and it was seen that the vitamin B1 utilizing ability could be accelerated and vitamin B1 metabolism could be improved.
4. The experimental results mentioned above suggest that successive bathing had an effective influence on the disturbance of vitamin B1 metabolism in rheumatoid arthritis patients, and especially accelerating the ability of vitamin B1 utilization.
5. It is difficult to reach a conclusion on the mechanism of the effects of hot spring bathing upon the metabolism of vitamin B1, but studies made by the author as well as a series of studies made in the laboratory of which the author is
