Grafetstätter Carina, Gaisberger Martin, Prossegger Johanna, Ritter Markus, Kolarž Predrag, Pichler Christina, Thalhamer Josef, Hartl Arnulf
Institute of Ecomedicine, Paracelsus Medical University, Strubergasse 22, 5020, Salzburg, Austria.
Institute of Physiology and Pathophysiology, Paracelsus Medical University, Strubergasse 22, 5020, Salzburg, Austria.
J Physiol Anthropol. 2017 Jan 13;36(1):10. doi: 10.1186/s40101-016-0117-3.
The specific microclimate of alpine waterfalls with high levels of ionized water aerosols has been suggested to trigger beneficial immunological and psychological effects. In the present three-armed randomized controlled clinical study, we focused on effects on (i) immunological reagibility, on (ii) physiological stress responses, and on (iii) stress-related psychological parameters.
People with moderate to high stress levels (n = 65) spent an active sojourn with daily hiking tours in the National Park Hohe Tauern (Großkirchheim, Austria). Half of the group was exposed to water aerosol of an alpine waterfall for 1 h/day (first arm, n = 33), whereas the other half spent the same time at a distant site (second arm, n = 32). A third arm (control, n = 26) had no intervention (except vaccination) and stayed at home, maintaining their usual lifestyle. The effect of the interventions on the immune system was tested by oral vaccination with an approved cholera vaccine and measuring specific salivary IgA antibody titers. Lung function was determined by peak expiratory flow measurement. Electric skin conductance, heart rate, and adaption of respiration rate were assessed as physiological stress parameters. Psychological stress-related parameters were analyzed by questionnaires and scales.
Compared to the control group, both intervention groups showed improvement of the lung function and of most physiological stress test parameters. Analysis of the mucosal immune response revealed a waterfall-specific beneficial effect with elevated IgA titers in the waterfall group. In line with these results, exposure to waterfall revealed an additional benefit concerning psychological parameters such as subjective stress perception (measured via visual analog scale), the Global Severity Index (GSI), and the Positive Symptom Total (PST).
Our study provides new data, which strongly support an "added value" of exposure to waterfall microclimate when combined with a therapeutic sojourn at high altitude including regular physical activity.
有人认为，含有高浓度离子化水气溶胶的高山瀑布的特定微气候会引发有益的免疫和心理效应。在目前这项三臂随机对照临床研究中，我们重点关注其对（i）免疫反应性、（ii）生理应激反应以及（iii）与应激相关的心理参数的影响。
压力水平为中度至高度的人群（n = 65）在奥地利大克希海姆的霍赫陶恩国家公园进行了为期一周的积极徒步旅行。其中一半人每天暴露于高山瀑布的水气溶胶中1小时（第一组，n = 33），而另一半人在远处相同时间（第二组，n = 32）。第三组（对照组，n = 26）不进行干预（接种疫苗除外），居家保持平常生活方式。通过口服经批准的霍乱疫苗并测量唾液中特异性IgA抗体滴度来测试干预措施对免疫系统的影响。通过呼气峰值流量测量来确定肺功能。将皮肤电导率、心率和呼吸频率适应性作为生理应激参数进行评估。通过问卷调查和量表分析与心理应激相关的参数。
与对照组相比，两个干预组的肺功能和大多数生理应激测试参数均有所改善。对黏膜免疫反应的分析显示，瀑布组IgA滴度升高，呈现出瀑布特有的有益效应。与这些结果一致，接触瀑布在心理参数方面显示出额外益处，如主观应激感知（通过视觉模拟量表测量）、总体严重程度指数（GSI）和阳性症状总分（PST）。
我们的研究提供了新数据，有力支持了在高海拔地区进行包括定期体育活动的治疗性逗留时，接触瀑布微气候具有“附加价值”。
