Study on the effect of radon thermal therapy

Present study from Okayama University Medical School compared the radioactive and thermal effects of radon thermal springs using similar chemical components under sauna or thermal spring conditions, which are closely related to the clinical treatment of radon therapy.

The results showed that both radon and thermal therapy improved antioxidant functions, such as the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase, which inhibit lipid peroxidation and total cholesterol produced in the body. In addition , the therapy enhanced the mitogen response induced by concanavalin A (ConA) and increased the percentage of CD4-positive cells, which serve as a marker for T helper cells, and decreased the percentage of CD8-positive cells, which are the usual marker for killer T cells and suppressor T cells, in the White Blood Cell Differentiation Antigen (CD8/CD4) assay. In addition, the therapy increased levels of alpha-atrial natriuretic polypeptide (alpha ANP), beta-endorphin, adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), insulin and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G-6-PDH) anddecreased vasopressin levels. Theoverall results were greater in the radon group than in the thermo group.

The results suggest that radon therapy contributes more to the prevention of lifestyle-related conditions related to peroxidation reactions and immunosuppression than thermotherapy. Furthermore, these results suggest that this may be part of the mechanism for the relief of hypertension, osteoarthritis (pain) and diabetes mellitus achieved by radon therapy rather than thermotherapy.