In the previous paper the author reported beneficial effects of thermal baths at the Kageyu Spa on hypertension and sequelae of so-called cerebral apoplexy.
The present report describes the effects of the hot spring bathing and drinking on hypercholesterolemia and atherosclerosis of rabbits fed on cholesterol. The results were as follows:
1) Remarkable hypercholesterolemia and atherosclerosis were observed in rabbits fed daily on cholesterol (0.1gm./Kg.) for 60 days. Daily hot spring bathing (at 37°C, for 30 minutes) or drinking (10cc./Kg.) commenced simultaneously with the feeding showed marked suppressive effects on both hypercholesterolemia and atherosclerosis, while daily plain water bathing or drinking under the same condition as in the hot spring treatment proved not so effective.
2) After 60 days of cholesterol feeding, the hot spring bathing and drinking or plain water bathing and drinking were carried on for 20 days respectively. Though high serum cholesterol level decreased spontaneously after the cessation of cholesterol feeding, daily plain water bathing or hot spring drinking among the various treatments seemed to have some beneficial effect on the decrease. On atherosclerosis, however, no curative effect was shown by any treatments.
3) During 90 days of cholestesol feeding, daily bathing in the hot spring or plain water (at 37°C, for 30 minutes respectively) was commenced on the 61st day and carried on till the 90th day. By daily hot spring bathing further aggravation of hypercholesterolemia was inhibited and atherosclerosis was proved to be in somewhat slighter degree than that observed in control group, while the suppressive effect of plain water bathing on hypercholesterolemia was not so remarkable as that of the hot spring bathing and no antiatherosclerotic effect was shown.
4) During 70 days of cholesterol feeding, daily bathing in the hot spring or plain water (at 37°C, for 30 minutes respectively) was commenced from the 31st day. By daily hot spring bathing not only further aggravation of hypercholesterolemia was suppressed but also a decrease in serum cholesterol level was observed inspite of keeping on feeding cholesterol and the degree of atherosclerosis was slighter than that observed in control group. By daily plain water bathing some suppressive effect on hypercholesterolemia was indeed shown but in slighter degree than that shown by the hot spring bathing, and no antiatherosclerotic effect was revealed.
With above-mentioned results it is concluded that (1) the suppressive effects of Kageyu Hot Spring on hypercholesterolemia and atherosclerosis of rabbits fed on cholesterol are due not only to indifferent temperature of the bath water but also to some special chemical constituents in the thermal water and (2) the prophylactic use of the spring is more effective than the curative one.
The author discussed the significance of SO
4 ion, which is a principal anion constituent in the thermal water of Kageyu.
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