@article {SZENCZI858, author = {AGNES SZENCZI and IVAN PETER and NORA NUSSER and ZENO AJTAY and KATALIN SZENDI and KAROLY BERENYI and ZOLTAN HORVATH-SZALAI and BALAZS SZIRMAY and ANDRAS SUMEGI and ADRIENN HANZEL and BALAZS NEMETH}, title = {Is Balneotherapy Protective Against Oxidative Stress? A Pilot Study}, volume = {37}, number = {2}, pages = {858--861}, year = {2023}, doi = {10.21873/invivo.13153}, publisher = {International Institute of Anticancer Research}, abstract = {Background/Aim: This study aimed to research the effects of Hark{\'a}ny healing water on oxidative stress. The study was performed in a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind setup. Patients and Methods: Twenty patients with psoriasis who underwent a 3-week-long inward balneotherapy-based rehabilitation were enrolled. Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) score and Malondialdehyde (MDA) {\textendash} a marker of oxidative stress - were determined, on admission and before discharge. Patients were treated with dithranol. Results: The mean PASI score - determined on admission and before discharge - decreased significantly after the 3-week-long rehabilitation 8.17 vs. 3.51 (p\<0.001). The baseline MDA value of patients with psoriasis was significantly higher compared to controls (3.0{\textpm}3.5 vs. 8.4{\textpm}7.4) (p=0.018). MDA levels of patients receiving placebo water increased significantly compared to MDA levels of patients receiving healing water (p=0.049). Conclusion: The effectiveness of dithranol resides in the formation of reactive oxygen species. No increased oxidative stress was found in the patients treated with healing water, thus healing water seems to be protective against oxidative stress. However, further research is needed to confirm these preliminary results.}, issn = {0258-851X}, URL = {https://iv.iiarjournals.org/content/37/2/858}, eprint = {https://iv.iiarjournals.org/content/37/2/858.full.pdf}, journal = {In Vivo} }