Effects of Immersion in Artificial Carbon Dioxide on Endothelial Function Assessed with Flow-Mediated Dilation in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes / 日本温泉気候物理医学会雑誌

ABSTRACT

<b>Purpose:</b> The aim of present study was to investigate the endothelial function of immersion of patients with diabetes in carbon dioxide (CO₂)-enriched water<BR><b>Methods:</b> Sixteen diabetic patients with minor complications were immersed in CO₂-enriched water for 4 weeks, and 8 patients were immersed in normal spa water for the same duration. To assess endothelial function, forearm flow-mediated dilation (FMD) was measured in those patients, and %FMD at pre-immersion was compared to that at post-immersion in CO₂-enriched water. The pulse wave velocity (PWV) was also measured to determine whether vascular stiffness was affected in those patients. The percent coefficient of variation of R-R intervals was examined as CVR-R (%). All patients were medicated with antidiabetic drugs, which were not changed during the study.<BR><b>Results:</b> %FMD showed no significant difference in any patients between pre- and post-CO₂-enriched water bathing. However, %FMD was significantly increased inpatients under 8.0% of HbA1c after CO₂-enriched water bathing (p<0.05), but it was not significantly increased in patients over 8.0 of HbA1c. PWV and CVR-R (%) were significantly reduced in all patients after CO₂-enriched water bathing. <BR><b>Conclusion:</b> CO₂-enriched water immersion had a positive effect on endothelial function, and reduced arterial wall stiffness in patients with diabetes. These findings suggest that CO₂-enriched water bathing may improve microcirculation, as well as subjective symptoms, in patients with controlled diabetes.