HEALTY-AGING PROPERTIES OF TECHIRGHIOL MUD THERAPY ASSESSED BY ENDOCRINE CHANGES OF PITUITARY-ADRENAL AXIS

Introduction: Assessment of endocrine changes of pituitary-adrenal axis, as an indicator of biological aging under the influence of the peloido-therapy. Also is evaluated the persistence of endocrine pituitary-adrenal changes post thermal therapy with highlights on the healthy aging effects of Techirghiol mud. Materials and Methods: Prospective cohort clinical study conducted in Balneal and Rehabilitation Sanatorium Techirghiol(BRST). The study group comprised a total of 37 patients. Subjects were divided into 4 groups depending on the moment of thermal cure: 2 groups during the summer months (group 1 and 2) and 2 groups in the months of autumn, winter and spring (group 3 and 4).The patient was evaluated in terms of clinical signs of aging, hormonal laboratory determinations(cortisol) and biochemical general determinations at admission, at discharge, one month and 4 months after thermal cure. Results: Regarding cortisol variation evaluated at hospital discharge and 4 months after peloido-therapy stands at the end of treatment as in both control groups (group 2 and 4) values ​​of cortisol were higher compared with the 2 groups study (group 1 and 3). The same results are maintained and 4 months post thermal cure in the 4 groups that we examined. Interestingly,one month after treatment the 2 study groups (group 1 and 3) recorded higher values of serum cortisol when compared with control groups (group 2 and 4). Analyzing pain intensity variation using visual analogue scale(VAS) in groups 1,2 and 3 on admission VAS were higher than at discharge. In group 4 VAS ​​of admission were lower than the corresponding VAS at discharge. When analyzed together groups 1 and 2, VAS ​​on admission were higher than VAS at discharge, while regarding groups 3 and 4, VAS ​​on admission were lower than at discharge. Conclusions: The research results to date highlights the beneficial properties of Techirghiol mud therapy, especially in the aging process.