Sauna Therapy Benefits Chemical Sensitivity By Altering Nutrient Toxicity!

Background: We have suggested over the past few months that multiple chemical sensitivity may result from an imbalance of metabolic processes the detoxify ammonia. This may be caused by overwhelming exposure from SIBO or genetic or environmental influences that inhibit the proper excretion of ammonia in urea. Several MCS experts, as well as patients, have found that dry sauna can be of benefit although thus far, there is no explanation of why this is so. In the past, we have written that sauna therapy is based on an ancient therapy called Waon therapy and past studies of this technique suggest it may increase the expression of Nrf2 and HO-1 and possibly influence the expression of PGC-1a. Both Nrf2 and PGC-1a have been implicated as having primary or secondary roles in mitochondrial biogenesis which of course, has benefits for health conditions where  mitochondrial respiration may be impaired. Also, Nrf2 has a role in neuroprotection and may modulate the ornithine pathway which is protective against ammonia toxicity.

A recent study has demonstrated that sauna/sweat therapy may lead to the reduction of nicotinamide. Nicotinamide overload has recently been implicated as a factor in causing insulin resistance, oxidative stress by H2O2 and possibly type 2 diabetes and other studies have shown that pollution may influence the development of this disease.  Other findings show skin damage and certain chemicals may reduce nicotinamide excretion. In general, nicotinamide is generally considered anti-inflammatory but at higher doses may be toxic to the liver. Nicotinamides are active inhibitors of SIRT proteins which are not only important for a number of metabolic processes but they also play a role mitochondrial biogenesis. On the other hand, higher ammonia levels can inhibit the TCA cycle which are a major producer of nicotinamides. Taking these conditions into account, we see a potential for sauna (via sweat therapy) to positively reduce the  production of toxic levels of nicotinamides while reducing ammonia toxicity through elevations in Nrf2 and the ornithine pathway.   The reduction of MCS symptoms could be a consequence of one or the other or both...!

For further reading:

• SIRT1, Nrf2 and Saunas -- September 6, 2009

Zhou, S.-S. S., Li, D., Sun, W.-P. P., Guo, M., Lun, Y.-Z. Z., Zhou, Y.-M. M., Xiao, F.-C. C., Jing, L.-X. X., Sun, S.-X. X., Zhang, L.-B. B., Luo, N., Bian, F.-N. N., Zou, W., Dong, L.-B. B., Zhao, Z.-G. G., Li, S.-F. F., Gong, X.-J. J., Yu, Z.-G. G., Sun, C.-B. B., Zheng, C.-L. L., Jiang, D.-J. J., and Li, Z.-N. N. (2009). Nicotinamide overload may play a role in the development of type 2 diabetes. World journal of gastroenterology : WJG, 15(45):5674-5684. http://www.citeulike.org/user/HEIRS/article/6885712
Whitaker, M. J. and Steinhardt, R. A. (1981). The relation between the increase in reduced nicotinamide nucleotides and the initiation of dna synthesis in sea urchin eggs. 25(1):95-103. http://www.citeulike.org/user/HEIRS/article/6885757
Smith, D., Wang, T., Španěl, P., and Bloor, R. (2006). The increase of breath ammonia induced by niacin ingestion quantified by selected ion flow tube mass spectrometry. Physiological Measurement, 27(6). http://www.citeulike.org/user/HEIRS/article/6885842
Katunuma, N., Okada, M., and Nish, Y. (1966). Regulation of the urea cycle and tca cycle by ammonia. Advances in Enzyme Regulation, 4:317-335. http://www.citeulike.org/user/HEIRS/article/6885732