Carubbi C1, Masselli E1, Calabrò E2, Bonati E1, Galeone C3, Andreoli R1, Goldoni M1, Corradi M1, Sverzellati N1, Pozzi G1, Banchini A1, Pastorino U4, Vitale M5.
Author Information
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, via A. Gramsci 14, 43126, Parma, Italy.
- epartment of Internal Medicine, Ospedale Fatebenefratelli Sacco, Piazzale Principessa Clotilde 3, 20121, Milan, Italy.
- Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, University of Milan, Via Commenda 19, 20122, Milan, Italy.
- Section of Thoracic Surgery, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale Tumori, via Venezian 1, 20133, Milan, Italy.
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, via A. Gramsci 14, 43126, Parma, Italy. marco.vitale@unipr.it.
Abstract
Sulphurous thermal water inhalations have been traditionally used in the treatment of airway diseases. In vivo and in vitro studies reported that they ameliorate mucus rheology, mucociliary clearance and reduce inflammation. Cigarette smoking induces an inflammatory damage, with consequent remodeling of respiratory airways, which in turn affect pulmonary functions. Despite the anti-inflammatory effects of H2S are clinically documented in several airway inflammatory diseases, data on the effects of sulphurous thermal water treatment on pulmonary function and biomarkers of airways inflammation in smokers are still scant. Therefore, we investigated whether a conventional cycle of sulphurous thermal water inhalation produced changes in markers of respiratory inflammation and function. A cohort of 504 heavy current and former smokers underwent 10-day cycles of sulphurous thermal water inhalation. Pulmonary function and metabolic analyses on exhaled breath condensate were then performed at day 0 and after the 10-day treatment. Spirometric data did not change after spa therapy, while exhaled breath condensate analysis revealed that a single 10-day cycle of sulphurous water inhalation was sufficient to induce a statistically significant increase of citrulline levels along with a decrease in ornithine levels, thus shifting arginine metabolism towards a reduced nitric oxide production, i.e. an anti-inflammatory profile. Overall, sulphurous thermal water inhalation impacts on arginine catatabolic intermediates of airways cells, shifting their metabolic balance towards a reduction of the inflammatory activity, with potential benefits for smokers.
Keywords
Thermal water therapy - Hydrogen sulphide - Pulmonary function - Exhaled breath condensate - Nitric oxide - Smoking habit