Regulating effect of hot spring bathing therapy on the balance of element metabolism in the human body

ObjectiveTo analyze the changes of major and trace elements in urine before and after hot spring bathing, and to explore the effect of hot spring bathing on element metabolism, so as to provide theoretical reference for the physiotherapeutic efficacy of hot spring bathing.

MethodsThe content of Ca, K, Mg, Na, P, S, Sr, Zn, B, Mn, Ni, V, Se, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mo, As, Cd, Hg, Li, Pb and Al in warm mineral springs, metasilicic springs and mineral springs in Guizhou Province was determined by ICP-MS. On the basis of physical examination, 421 people in hot spring areas of Guizhou Province were selected as the subjects. Under the guidance of professionals, the volunteers took a hot spring bath with the whole body immersed for four weeks, once a day, five times a week, for 40-50 minutes each time. Finally, 311 volunteers completed the standard bath required by this study. The content of major elements(Ca, K, Mg, Na, P, and S), essential trace elements(Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mo, Se, Sr, and Zn), possibly essential trace elements(B, Mn, Ni, and V)and potentially toxic elements(Al, As, Cd, Hg, Li, and Pb)in urine was analyzed by ICP-MS. Wilcoxon test was used to compare the differences of various elements in urine before and after bathing.

ResultsThe water of the warm mineral spring pool mainly contained Mo, Sr, Zn, B, Al, and Pb. The metasilicic acid water mainly contained Cu, V, and As. The water of the mineral spring bubble pool mainly contained Ca, K, Mg, S, Cr, Fe, Se, Mn, Ni, and Li. Compared with before intervention, the content of major elements(Ca, K, Mg, S), essential trace elements(Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mo, Se, Zn)and possibly essential trace elements(B, Mn, Ni, V)significantly increased, and the content of potential toxic elements(Al, Li, Pb)significantly decreased after intervention(all P < 0.05). The results showed that the content of P, S, Co, Cr, Mo, Se, Zn, Mn and Ni increased significantly and the content of Hg decreased significantly after metasilicic acid hot spring bathing compared with that before bathing(all P < 0.05). After warm mineral hot spring bathing, the content of Ca, Mg, S and Zn increased significantly, while the content of Al and Pb decreased significantly(all P < 0.05). The content of Mg, S, Co, Cr, Se and Ni increased significantly and the content of Al decreased significantly(all P < 0.05).

ConclusionThere are many kinds of mineral elements in hot springs in Guizhou Province. After hot spring bathing, the essential trace elements and possible essential trace elements in human body increased, and the potential toxic elements decreased, but there was no gender difference.