569 Effects of carbonated natural mineral water baths and mofettes on peripheral arterial flow in rats

Abstract

Abstract: (1) Introduction. Disorders of peripheral blood circulation affect people all around the
world. Balneotherapy, in the form of carbonated mineral water baths and mofettes, could be
considered one of the treatment options. The current study aims to investigate, in an experimental
study, the effects of carbonated natural mineral water, with a known composition, and natural
mofettes from Băile Tușnad (Romania) on peripheral arterial blood flow. (2) Material and method.
A total of 16 rat subjects were studied, divided equally into 4 groups, all evaluated at 2, 4 and 6
weeks after the intervention. Group 1 was considered the control-group, and no treatment was
applied. Group 2 was taken to the mofettes daily, for 2 weeks, for exposure to carbon dioxide, dry
gas, for 20 minutes/day. Group 3 performed daily mofettes and baths with carbonated mineral
water, for two weeks, 20 minutes/day, each procedure. Group 4 took a daily bath with carbonated
mineral water, for 2 weeks, 20 min/day. At the end of the two-week treatment, they were evaluated
by doppler ultrasound at the femoral artery, respectively at 2 and 4 weeks, to evaluate the effect
over time of these treatments. Femoral artery diameter (mm), peak systolic velocity (PVS, cm/s),
heart rate (HR, bpm) were quantitatively determined in all 4 groups, at 2, 4 and 6 weeks respectively,
and ultrasound images were captured. (3) Results and discussions. In the control group, there were
no differences at 2 weeks vs. 4 weeks vs. 6 weeks regardless of the studied parameter. The diameter
of the femoral artery increased significantly in group 3 (mofetta and carbonated mineral water,
p=0.0183), respectively in group 4 (mineral water p=0.007). Heart rate changed significantly
p=0.0183 in the mofette group, as well as in the one treated with carbonated mineral water p= 0.024.
The results of the study suggest that carbonated mineral water and mofettes were responsible for
the changes in femoral artery flow, compared to the data from the control group. (4) Conclusions.
Carbonated mineral water baths and mofettes could increase the peripheral arterial blood flow,
during repeated immersion, and the results were beneficial 2 weeks after the end of the treatment,
and were maintained after treatment at 4 and 6 weeks, respectively.

Keywords: carbonated mineral waters, mofette, doppler ultrasound, arterial flow