A doctor points to an image of the intestinal tract.

Study on the effect of balneotherapy on metabolic syndrome

Henri Gin et al.

July 2013

Healing & thermal therapy

Metabolism / Stomach / Intestines

The aim of the study was to estimate the effect of lifestyle adjustment interventions in patients with metabolic syndrome treated by prescribed balneotherapy.

The Université de Bordeaux study consisted of an observational pilot cohort study with 12-month follow-up after multidimensional lifestyle education (physical activity, nutrition, education) during a 3-week stay at the resort town of Eugénie-les-Bains.

Of 145 eligible patients, 97 were included; 63 patients were followed up and analyzed. At enrollment, all had met at least 3 National Cholesterol Education Program - Adult Treatment Panel III (NCEP-ATPIII) criteria for metabolic syndrome, 76.2% were female, and the mean age was 61.2 years. At the end of follow-up, 48 of the 63 patients (76.2%) no longer had metabolic syndrome. These 48 patients without metabolic syndrome at the end of follow-up accounted for 49.5% of the 97 patients included.

Future studies on lifestyle interventions using the spa-type environment could expect at least one third of the patients in the intervention group to be free of metabolic syndrome at the end of the 12-month follow-up.

The most important information on the study at a glance

Indications: Metabolic syndrome
Institution: Université de Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France
Title: Study on the effect of balneotherapy on metabolic syndrome
Brief description: The study shows that lifestyle adjustments and balneotherapy led to an improvement in metabolic syndrome in 76.2% of patients.
Original title: Observation of the long-term effects of lifestyle intervention during balneotherapy in metabolic syndrome
Link to the study: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23886461/