Adaptation related to cytokines in man: effects of regular swimming in ice‐cold water

Abstract

SummaryThe cytokine response after thermal stress (sauna + swimming in ice-cold water) was investigated in subjectively healthy persons. Two groups were studied at the end of the winter season: habitual and inexperienced winter swimmers. Blood was collected at rest, after a sauna bath and after a short swim in ice-cold water. Conventional methods and ELISA kits were used to determined the blood picture, serum cortisol and dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate, plasma antidiuretic hormone (ADH) levels, and the levels of several cytokines in plasma and in the supernatants of blood cell cultures which were stimulated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS). In regular winter swimmers, the concentrations of plasma interleukin 6 (IL-6), leukocytes, and monocytes at rest were signi®cantly higher than in inexperienced subjects. In experienced female winter swimmers, the plasma concentration of the soluble receptor for IL-6 was signi®cantly lower than in inexperienced female swimmers 1 . In both groups, granulocytosis, haemoconcentration and signi®cant increases in the concentrations of ADH, cortisol and IL-6 were observed after the stimuli. However, the changes in the cortisol concentration were dramatically larger in habitual winter swimmers. A signi®cant correlation was found between the delta values of cortisol and the basal concentrations of IL-6. In cell cultures, the LPS-induced release of IL-1b and IL-6 was higher at rest in the inexperienced winter swimmers. This release was dramatically suppressed after exposure to the stimuli in the inexperienced winter swimmers but tended to increase in the regular winter swimmers. These stresses appear to challenge both the neuro-endocrine and the immune systems and the results indicate 2 that adaptive mechanisms occur in habitual winter swimmers.

Effects of cold mist shower on patients with inflammatory arthritis: a crossover controlled clinical trial

“…This could give some indication of a better effect in continuation. In winter swimming studies a regular repeat has been shown to give a better result both in biological and psychological measures (16,17).The unexpected result that women reacted in a different way in this study is, however, in line with the earlier findings that women with inflammatory disease score higher subjective but not objective disease activity measures than men (18). This may be partly due to the central component of the patient's pain (19).…”

Effects of whole-body cryotherapy on serum mediators of inflammation and serum muscle enzymes in athletes

“…Studies investigating the effects of cold exposure on immune function (Walsh and Whitham, 2006) found that lymphocyte, monocyte and tumor necrosis factor a levels were increased, whilst concentrations of interleukins IL-6, IL-1b, and C-reactive protein (CRP) were unchanged after 6 weeks of cold water immersions (Jansky et al, 1996). Moreover, resting levels of IL-6, lymphocytes and monocytes were noted to be higher in subjects accustomed to winter swimming than in inexperienced individuals (Dugué and Leppä nen, 2000). Contrary to popular belief, cold exposure can actually stimulate rather than depress immune function (Walsh and Whitham, 2006) In general, WBC does not appear to be harmful; indeed, it may be beneficial for athletes since prompt recovery from muscle injury is a primary concern for both athletes and sports physicians alike.…”

Health effects and risks of sauna bathing

“…The habit of ice-water immersion without sauna bathing (see [3][4][5] will not be discussed. The literature search was based on Medline and on own personal files.…”