Effects of repeated whole-body cold exposures on serum concentrations of growth hormone, thyrotropin, prolactin and thyroid hormones in healthy women

Cold therapy is used to relieve pain and inflammatory symptoms. Humoral changes may account for the pain alleviation related to the cold exposures. The aim of the present study was to examine the effects of two types of cold therapy, winter swimming in ice-cold water (WS) and whole body cryotherapy...

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Published in:Cryobiology Vol. 58; no. 3; pp. 275 - 278
Main Authors: Smolander, Juhani, Leppäluoto, Juhani, Westerlund, Tarja, Oksa, Juha, Dugue, Benoit, Mikkelsson, Marja, Ruokonen, Aimo
Format: Journal Article
Language:English
Published: Netherlands Elsevier Inc 01.06.2009
Subjects:
Adaptation, Physiological
Body Temperature
Cold Temperature
Cryotherapy
Female
Females
Growth hormone
Growth Hormone - blood
Humans
Prolactin
Prolactin - blood
Thermosensing
Thyroid hormones
Thyroid Hormones - blood
Thyrotropin
Thyrotropin - blood
Whole-body cryotherapy
Winter swimming
Whole-body cryotherapy
Prolactin
Winter swimming
Thyrotropin
Thyroid hormones
Growth hormone
Females
ISSN:0011-2240, 1090-2392, 1090-2392
Online Access:Get full text
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Summary:Cold therapy is used to relieve pain and inflammatory symptoms. Humoral changes may account for the pain alleviation related to the cold exposures. The aim of the present study was to examine the effects of two types of cold therapy, winter swimming in ice-cold water (WS) and whole body cryotherapy (WBC), on the serum levels of the growth hormone, prolactin, thyrotropin and free fractions of thyroid hormones (fT3, fT4). One group of healthy females ( n = 6) was exposed to WS (water 0–2 °C) for 20 s and another group ( n = 6) to WBC (air −110 °C) for 2 min, three times a week for 12 weeks. Blood samples used for the hormone measurements were taken on weeks 1, 4 and 12 before and 35 min after the cold exposures and on the days of the respective weeks, when the cold exposures were not performed. During the WS treatments, serum thyrotropin increased significantly at 35 min on weeks 1 ( p < 0.01) and 4 ( p < 0.05), but the responses were within the health-related reference interval. During the WS, the serum prolactin measured at 35 min on week 12 was lower than during the control treatment, and no changes in fT3 or fT4 were observed. During the WBC, no changes in the serum levels of the studied hormones were observed during the 12 weeks. In conclusion, repeated WS and WBC treatments for healthy females do not lead to disorders related to altered secretions of the growth hormone, prolactin, thyrotropin, or thyroid hormones.
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ISSN:0011-2240
1090-2392
1090-2392
DOI:10.1016/j.cryobiol.2009.02.001