Li Qing, Takayama Norimasa, Kimura Yukako, Takayama Hiroshi, Kumeda Shigeyoshi, Miura Takashi, Kitagawa Tsunemi, Aoyagi Yoichiro, Imai Michiko
Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Nippon Medical School, Tokyo, Japan.
Forestry and Forest Products Research Institute, Forest Research and Management Organization, Tsukuba, Japan.
J Occup Health. 2025 Jan 7;67(1). doi: 10.1093/joccuh/uiaf041.
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is the fourth leading cause of death worldwide, responsible for 3.5 million deaths in 2021. Effective preventive measures are needed. Forest bathing has been reported to have positive effects on the immune system. In addition, the clean air, mild climate, phytoncides, high oxygen concentration, and other elements of forests are expected to have benefits for respiratory diseases such as COPD. Based on the above background, this study used a randomized crossover design to examine the improving effects of forest bathing on inflammatory markers and subjective symptoms related to COPD.
Thirty male subjects aged 63.1 ± 7.5 years were recruited after obtaining informed consent. These subjects participated in day trips to a Japanese cypress forest park and to a city area of Nagano Prefecture as a control in June 2024. Blood samples were taken in the afternoon of each day before and after the walks. Concentrations of α1-antitrypsin (α1-AT), C-reactive protein (CRP), fibrinogen, and interleukin 6 (IL-6) in blood were measured. Percutaneous oxygen saturation (SpO2), the profile of mood states (POMS), and questionnaires for subjective fatigue and respiratory symptoms and sleep quality were carried out before and after each trip.
Forest bathing significantly decreased the concentrations of blood CRP, α1-AT, IL-6, and fibrinogen, significantly increased SpO2, reduced subjective fatigue and respiratory symptoms, improved sleep and the scores of positive feelings, and reduced the scores for negative emotions in POMS.
Forest bathing may improve inflammatory markers, SpO2, and subjective symptoms related to COPD.
慢性阻塞性肺疾病（COPD）是全球第四大致死原因，2021年导致350万人死亡。需要有效的预防措施。据报道，森林浴对免疫系统有积极影响。此外，森林的清洁空气、温和气候、植物杀菌素、高氧浓度等因素预计对COPD等呼吸系统疾病有益。基于上述背景，本研究采用随机交叉设计，以检验森林浴对与COPD相关的炎症标志物和主观症状的改善作用。
在获得知情同意后，招募了30名年龄在63.1±7.5岁的男性受试者。这些受试者于2024年6月参加了前往日本柏森林公园的一日游，并作为对照前往长野县的一个城市地区。在每天散步前后的下午采集血样。测量血液中α1-抗胰蛋白酶（α1-AT）、C反应蛋白（CRP）、纤维蛋白原和白细胞介素6（IL-6）的浓度。在每次旅行前后进行经皮血氧饱和度（SpO2）、情绪状态剖面图（POMS）以及主观疲劳、呼吸症状和睡眠质量问卷调查。
森林浴显著降低了血液中CRP、α1-AT、IL-6和纤维蛋白原的浓度，显著提高了SpO2，减轻了主观疲劳和呼吸症状，改善了睡眠和积极情绪得分，并降低了POMS中的负面情绪得分。
森林浴可能改善与COPD相关的炎症标志物、SpO2和主观症状。
