Repeated Far Infrared Sauna Bathing in Adults With Obesity
For patients and families
In plain language
An automatic summary of structured registry data. It is an orientation aid, not a substitute for the official protocol or a physician assessment.
- What is being studied
- The protocol lists: Heat therapy.
- Who it may be relevant to
- Registry conditions: Obesity (Disorder). Basic parameters: 18 years — 59 years · All.
- What needs checking
- Age, condition and sex are only basic indicators. Prior treatment, laboratory values and other mandatory requirements appear in the eligibility criteria below.
- Where it takes place
- United States
- Next step
- Save the trial, show it to the treating physician, and confirm current recruitment with the study center. Costs, documents and travel →
Unsure about the terms? Read our patient guide →
Official title
Targeting Hypertension and Insulin Resistance With Heat Therapy
Overview
This is a clinical trial to determine if 30 sessions of far infrared sauna bathing can improve cardiovascular and metabolic function in adults with obesity.
Detailed description
Obesity can increase the risk for cardiovascular and metabolic diseases. Lifestyle interventions are needed to reduce this risk. Far infrared saunas are one form of heat therapy that may help reduce these risks, however, there is limited research within a population with obesity. It is hypothesized that repeated far infrared sauna bathing will improve cardiovascular and metabolic function in adults with obesity.
Interventions
- Other Heat therapy
30 sessions of far infrared sauna bathing (45-60C) for up to 45 min
Primary outcome measures
- Blood pressure change [Time frame: 10 weeks]
- Blood glucose [Time frame: 10 weeks]
Secondary outcome measures (2)
- Arterial stiffness reduction [Time frame: 10 weeks]
- Serum insulin [Time frame: 10 weeks]
Eligibility criteria
Inclusion criteria
- BMI between 30-45 kg/m2
Exclusion criteria
- Diagnosed diabetes
- Greater than stage 2 hypertension
- Coagulopathies
- Allergies to lidocaine
- Medications affecting blood pressure
- Blood clotting, and blood sugars
- Smoker
- Pregnant
- Desiring to become pregnant in the near future
- Breastfeeding
- BMI less than 30
- BMI greater than 45 kg/m2
- Exercising > 120 min/week
- Taking medications (other than hormone contraceptives)
- Not willing to stop taking medications (other than hormone contraceptives) for 24 hours before testing days
Criteria are shown verbatim from the registry (in English). Final eligibility is always assessed by the study center.
Healthy volunteers: No
Study design
- Allocation
- Randomized
- Model
- Parallel assignment
- Masking
- Open label
- Primary purpose
- Basic science
Study locations
United States · 1 center
- University of Oregon — Eugene
Publications
- Masuda A, Koga Y, Hattanmaru M, Minagoe S, Tei C. The effects of repeated thermal therapy for patients with chronic pain. Psychother Psychosom. 2005;74(5):288-94. doi: 10.1159/000086319. PMID 16088266
- Kihara T, Biro S, Imamura M, Yoshifuku S, Takasaki K, Ikeda Y, Otuji Y, Minagoe S, Toyama Y, Tei C. Repeated sauna treatment improves vascular endothelial and cardiac function in patients with chronic heart failure. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2002 Mar 6;39(5):754-9. doi: 10.1016/s0735-1097(01)01824-1. PMID 11869837
- Kihara T, Biro S, Ikeda Y, Fukudome T, Shinsato T, Masuda A, Miyata M, Hamasaki S, Otsuji Y, Minagoe S, Akiba S, Tei C. Effects of repeated sauna treatment on ventricular arrhythmias in patients with chronic heart failure. Circ J. 2004 Dec;68(12):1146-51. doi: 10.1253/circj.68.1146. PMID 15564698
- Fuchs CJ, Betz MW, Petrick HL, Weber J, Senden JM, Hendriks FK, Bels JLM, van Loon LJC, Snijders T. Repeated passive heat treatment increases muscle tissue capillarization, but does not affect postprandial muscle protein synthesis rates in healthy older adults. J Physiol. 2025 Jan;603(1):167-186. doi: 10.1113/JP286986. Epub 2024 Oct 7. PMID 39373667
- Ely BR, Francisco MA, Halliwill JR, Bryan SD, Comrada LN, Larson EA, Brunt VE, Minson CT. Heat therapy reduces sympathetic activity and improves cardiovascular risk profile in women who are obese with polycystic ovary syndrome. Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol. 2019 Nov 1;317(5):R630-R640. doi: 10.1152/ajpregu.00078.2019. Epub 2019 Sep 4. PMID 31483156
- Ely BR, Clayton ZS, McCurdy CE, Pfeiffer J, Needham KW, Comrada LN, Minson CT. Heat therapy improves glucose tolerance and adipose tissue insulin signaling in polycystic ovary syndrome. Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab. 2019 Jul 1;317(1):E172-E182. doi: 10.1152/ajpendo.00549.2018. Epub 2019 May 28. PMID 31136202
- Brunt VE, Jeckell AT, Ely BR, Howard MJ, Thijssen DH, Minson CT. Acute hot water immersion is protective against impaired vascular function following forearm ischemia-reperfusion in young healthy humans. Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol. 2016 Dec 1;311(6):R1060-R1067. doi: 10.1152/ajpregu.00301.2016. Epub 2016 Oct 5. PMID 27707723
- Brunt VE, Eymann TM, Francisco MA, Howard MJ, Minson CT. Passive heat therapy improves cutaneous microvascular function in sedentary humans via improved nitric oxide-dependent dilation. J Appl Physiol (1985). 2016 Sep 1;121(3):716-23. doi: 10.1152/japplphysiol.00424.2016. Epub 2016 Jul 14. PMID 27418688
Identifiers
NCT: NCT07158047 · 07312020.034 · 19TPA34890033