Daily sauna bathing may help prevent menopausal symptoms

Chicago (July 1, 2024) — A new study in mice suggests that daily exposure to a warm environment, such as a sauna, may help older adults, especially women, combat age-related obesity and insulin resistance. The study shows heat therapy has potential as a simple way to promote healthy aging.

The researchers found that older female mice who received 30 minutes of whole-body heat treatment each day gained less weight and had improved insulin use, which helps control blood sugar levels. They also identified the biological processes responsible for these beneficial effects.

“Compared to men, women are more likely to become obese or overweight,” said study leader Seungkyu Jeong, PhD, associate professor in the Department of Nutrition at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. “This is especially true after menopause, when estrogen in the body declines. Our study suggests that whole-body heat therapy may be an effective, non-invasive solution to managing weight gain and insulin resistance associated with menopause.”

Long Huang, a doctoral student supervised by Chung, is scheduled to present his research results at NUTRITION 2024, the American Academy of Nutrition’s flagship annual meeting, which will be held in Chicago from June 29 to July 2.

“Heat therapy may be a practical option for people with increased abdominal fat and increased risk of metabolic diseases caused by hormonal changes during menopause,” said Fan. “It could be easily integrated into daily health care through regular sessions with saunas, heat baths, or specialized heat wraps.”

In the study, aged female mice had their ovaries removed to model the postmenopausal state. To promote weight gain, the mice were fed a Western-style diet with 45% of calories from fat. One group of mice received 30 minutes of heat therapy every day in a heating chamber set at 40°C (104°F) for 12 weeks, while the other group did not receive heat therapy.

Heat-treated mice showed no tissue damage and significantly reduced lactate dehydrogenase levels, indicating that age-related tissue damage was reduced, and the treatment also effectively alleviated weight gain induced by a high-fat diet.

Compared to mice that did not receive the treatment, mice that received heat therapy had significantly improved insulin sensitivity and insulin signaling, and reduced fat accumulation in key areas such as the liver and brown fat. Adipose tissue stores energy, but brown fat is a metabolically active type of fat that helps the body burn more energy. Research has shown that as people age and enter menopause, they tend to lose brown fat, which leads to a slowdown in metabolism.

The researchers also investigated the molecular mechanisms involved in the beneficial effects of heat therapy. They found that heat triggers several molecular processes that help the body use energy and burn fat more efficiently. The key is a protein called TRPV1, which acts as a calcium ion channel in cell membranes. When activated by heat, TRPV1 initiates a process called the wasteful calcium cycle, in which the body uses energy (in the form of ATP) to pump calcium ions across cell membranes. This process helps increase the amount of energy the body burns.

TRPV1 activation and subsequent calcium cycling also stimulates fat breakdown and burning. This reduces fat accumulation in tissues such as the liver and improves the body’s insulin sensitivity, which is important for overall metabolic health. “This sequence of events suggests that regular application of heat could mimic the effects of calorie burning and fat loss,” says Fan. “This could be particularly advantageous for people who find physical activity difficult, providing a relaxing way to improve metabolic health.”

The researchers note that further studies are needed to determine the optimal duration and intensity of human heat exposure for health benefits and to confirm its safety and effectiveness across diverse populations.

fan The research will be presented at the “Nutrition Interventions and Metabolic Insights into Aging and Obesity” Poster Theatre Flash Session on Monday, July 1, from 8:08-8:12 a.m. CDT at McCormick Place.Abstract; Presentation details).

Please note that although the abstracts presented at NUTRITION 2024 were evaluated and selected by an expert committee, they have not undergone the peer review process typically required for publication in a scientific journal. Therefore, the presented research findings should be considered provisional until a peer-reviewed publication has been published.

About NUTRITION 2024

NUTRITION 2024 is the flagship meeting of the American Academy of Nutrition and the premier educational event for nutrition professionals worldwide. NUTRITION brings together laboratory scientists, clinicians, population health researchers, and community intervention investigators to identify solutions to today’s greatest nutrition challenges. Our audience also includes undergraduate, graduate, and medical students who are emerging leaders in the field. NUTRITION 2024 will be held in Chicago from June 29 to July 2, 2024. https://nutrition.org/N24 #Nutrition2024

About the American Society for Nutrition (ASN)

ASN is the preeminent professional organization for nutrition researchers and clinicians worldwide. Founded in 1928, the Society brings together top nutrition researchers, health care professionals, policy makers, and industry leaders to advance nutrition knowledge and applications. ASN publishes four peer-reviewed journals and provides education and professional development opportunities to advance nutrition research, practice, and education. Since 2018, the American Society for Nutrition has produced NUTRITION, the world’s leading annual conference for nutrition professionals. http://www.nutrition.org

For more breaking news from NUTRITION 2024, visit https://www.eurekalert.org/newsroom/nutrition2024/home

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