Effects of Spa Therapy Combined with Dietary Supplementation with n-3 Fatty Acids on Bronchial Asthma
- Author:
Makoto OKAMOTO
;
Kozo ASHIDA
;
Fumihiro MITSUNOBU
;
Yasuhiro HOSAKI
;
Hirofumi TSUGENO
;
Norikazu NISHIDA
;
Takuya NAGATA
;
Tadashi YOKOI
;
Shingo TAKATA
;
Yoshiro TANIZAKI
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
bronchial asthma;
spa therapy;
perilla seed oil;
α-linolenic acid;
leukotriene C4
- From:The Journal of The Japanese Society of Balneology, Climatology and Physical Medicine
2003;66(3):171-179
- CountryJapan
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
N-3 fatty acids are reportedly effective for asthma. In addition, spa therapy has been reported to be effective for patients with asthma. In the present study, the effects of spa therapy combined with perilla seed oil-rich diet (rich in n-3 fatty acid) were examined on asthma. A total of 14 asthmatic patients had a complex spa therapy and consumed a perilla seed oil-rich diet-rich in α-linolenic acid (α-LNA) for 8 weeks. Generation of leukotriene (LT) C4 by leucocytes, respiratory function were analyzed. The generation of LTC4 by leucocytes decreased significantly for 2, 4 and 8 weeks (P<0.05). Peak expiratory flow (PEF) values increased significantly for 2, 4, 6 and 8 weeks (P<0.05). The values of ventilatory parameters [forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1), forced expiratory flow after 25% of expired FVC (FEF25), forced expiratory flow after 75% of expired FVC (FEF75), mean expiratory flow during the middle half of the FVC (FEF25-75)] revealed a significant increase after 4 and 8 weeks of the modified diet (P<0.05). The results suggest that spa therapy combined with a perilla seed oil-rich diet are effective in the treatment of asthma in terms of its ability to suppress LTC4 generation by leucocytes, and in inducing an improvement of pulmonary function.
